Providing Unique Solutions with a New Pigment Chemistry
Bright yellow, orange and red shades are particularly challenging, with preferential reformulation away from cadmium pigments and lead chromates within the plastics and surface coatings markets. While cadmium has restricted use within Europe, lead chromates carry no legislative restriction (apart from decorative paint applications). However, industries are leading the way; the consumer-related decorative and automotive paint producers have not used lead-based pigments for some years. Powder coating producers have been working on a voluntary ban on lead chromate pigments which, as of this writing, should be in place by year end 2003.
Customers are facing the challenge of matching traditional color targets with alternative pigment systems, while remaining competitive and protecting their margins. Inevitably, the attractive bright shades are the most difficult to reformulate, since heavy metal formulations often come hand in hand with color brilliance, technical performance and ease of use.