The Role of High-Performance Inorganic Pigments in Surface Coatings
In today's world of ever-increasing expectations, the surface coater is facing a tough challenge. The ability to "think smart" has to be of primary importance in the race to differentiate oneself from the multiplicity of other suppliers, while seeking to maximize profitability.
The pigment component in any formulation can either enhance or degrade the overall performance of the protective colored coating. In highly alkaline cement-based and silicate coatings, the chemical resistance of the pigment is crucial. In camouflage applications and substrates that cannot tolerate heat build-up, such as PVC extrusions, vinyl sidings and some coil coatings, the functionality of the pigment is the determining factor. Infrared reflective pigments, such as CI Pigment Black 30, are the pigment of choice when dark, colored coatings are required that minimize the heat retained in the protective coating. Increasingly, specifiers are looking for pigment suppliers that can correlate the relationship between pigment functionality and performance, such that the end result is enhanced durability to the finished coating.