ics, specialties and niche markets,” said Yazdani. “We also
expect flat to declining conditions in automotive, architectural,
and ink markets. The trend for more efficient cars in the automotive market will see a reduction in paint consumption, however, it will also increase the demand for color. This trend will
help to fuel the continued growth in high performance and
effect pigments.”
In terms of market segments, growth of HPP is expected in
the decorative market where higher quality systems become
more demanding. “Further, the globalization in the industry
and the global activities of key players in the market have
created a lot of similarities in the use and application of pigments in the last few years,” said Orlowski. “Existing technology differences across the regions will lead to further
growth on the HPP side.”
HPPS GAIN USE IN NEW SEGMENTS
Valued for their ability to differentiate products with unique
visual effects and excellent weathering, lightfastness and heat
resistance ability, high performance pigments traditionally
have been used automotive and architectural applications.
However, they are also finding use in a number of different
applications from electronics to RFID products.
“High performance pigments are being used for kitchen
appliances, personal watercraft, mobile devices and electronic
accessories, high-end musical instruments and other forms of
durable goods for their superior aesthetic and performance
qualities,” said Chevrier. “In addition to design features, func-tionalized pigments are creating high end special functionality.
Emerging areas of application include security, radio frequency (RF) identification, conductive, thermochromic, and holographic inks and coatings that respond to external stimulus.”
Recent products launched by BASF include Glacier Frost
White S1303D synthetic mica effect pigment for exterior applications and Glacier Frost White 9S130D for industrial applications; Sicopal Orange L 2430 complex inorganic color pigment;
Paliogen Blue L 6360 Indanthrone blue pigment and Heliogen
Blue L 6950 copper phthalocyanine pigment.
BASF, under the Ciba business, also recently introduced
Xymara Fireball effect pigment. “Xymara Fireball is a multipurpose pigment that combines the light fastness of a typical
high performance quinacridone pigment with the luster of a
mid-range metallic or pearlescent pigment,” said McHenry.
“The value of this product is that it allows formulators to generate exciting new effects in streamlined formulations. In
some cases formulators can achieve a similar look with
Fireball as they would by combining a transparent high performance red with a weather resistant effect pigment. This all-in-one pigment provides a more brilliant and clean hue than
the traditional blend.”
Sun Chemical has launched a number of innovative products. SunGEM is a new industrial effect pigment product line
from Sun Chemical that provides 10 new shades of intense
high chroma color with excellent opacity and superior pearlescent luster, according to the company. “SunGEM’s newest colors will help industrial designers set new trends and position
their products apart from their competition,” said Yazdani. “In
addition to new bold and brilliant colors, SunGEM offers
unique magnetic alignment properties that bring colorful three
dimensional effects to their coatings and end use applications.”
Also from Sun Chemical is SunMetallics. SunMetallics is
a line of non-leafing aluminum flake pigments for use in solventborne industrial coating applications. The product portfolio includes cornflake and silver dollar pigments over a broad
particle size range to allow for formulation of coatings with
excellent hiding power to brilliant metallic effects and excellent
color travel. “In addition to the initial product line, Sun
Chemical launched eight new products in 2009 to provide
increased formulation design and effect,” said Yazdani. “In
addition, 2009 will bring further line extensions to be able to
meet the market needs for waterborne applications and specialty performance and design needs.”
Toyo Ink applies nanotechnology in production process for
high performance and specialty pigments. “Our high-performance pigments are used in the fabrication of color filters for top-of-the-line LCDs found in the market today,” said Adachi. “The
upgrading of pigment functions is a constant requirement of
our customers, so we continue to improve color materials, leveraging our core competencies of advanced pigment manufacturing and unique dispersion technology.
Heucotech Ltd. is in the process of constructing a facility in
Fairless Hills, PA for the production of Universal Colorants for
the decorative coatings in the NAFTA market. “This new business in the NAFTA region will expand on the existing base of
global technology knowledge in colorants and address specific
customer needs with innovative solutions,” said Poemer. “The
environmentally friendly Heubach technologies will work in
either aqueous- or solvent-based products as well as in conventional technology or in lower VOC coatings.”
Heubach has recently expanded its line of high performance pigments to include Monolite Yellow 113901 (PY139)
for high performance coatings applications, Monolite Red
325401/325402 (PR254) for automotive and decorative coatings and Monolite Red 312201 (PR112) for high performance coatings. Additional pigments such as PY151, PR264,
PY180 and PY181 are in the pilot plant process or in
advanced stages of R&D.
Clariant has recently introduced a range of Easily
Dispersible (ED) pigments for solvent-based coatings for the
medium to high-end markets. These include PY 194, PY 151,
PY 139, PO 36, PR 122, PR 254, PB 15: 3. Other pigments are
under development to complete the range. Additionally in
the area of pigment preparations, Clariant has develop a
complete range of very low VOC dispersions with no APEs.
Colanyl 500 is used for formulating green coatings.
Trust Chem USA recently launched lower cost Red 122,
Blue 60, Yellow 139, Yellow 151 and Yellow 180. “They are
mainly used in a wide range of coatings, plastics and various
applications where required by customer specification,” said
Campbell. “Our R&D labs are working on surface treatment
technology, derivative technology and nanotechnologies. We
have been placing high priority on expanding our line of high
performance pigments, improving the quality and developing
specific standards to meet customer requirements.” CW
