also exploring new chemistries and materials to develop
new platforms for our effect pigment portfolio.”
“Coating manufacturers continue to emphasize innova-
tion and to utilize metallic pigments to provide greater
degrees of effect and impact,” said Frenzel. “Examples
include effect pigments with higher chroma and more
functional properties, such as higher degrees of hiding.”
According to Bilodeau, low VOC coating technologies
such as waterborne and powder coating are a strong focus,
as well as the use of metallic pigments in color concentrates
as it reduces VOC emissions from paint applications.
Sun Chemical has identified two key trends impacting
the metallic pigments market. “First, the market contin-
ues to demand unique metallic effects that combine color,
travel and functionality,” said Hollman. “Current tech-
nology continues to push towards achieving the liquid
metal look combined with ease of use and formulation
flexibility. Second, our customers are requesting environ-
mentally-friendly products with smaller carbon foot-
prints. As a result, waterborne technology continues to
grow along with applications like powder coatings that
reduce emissions and waste.”
Although the automotive market continues to be the
primary consumer of metallic pigments, emerging areas
such as consumer electronics, coil coating and digital
inks, show promise.
“The auto market continues to have the largest impact
on effect pigment consumption, but emerging areas such
as consumer electronics and household goods continue to
migrate towards metallic effect pigment shades,” said
Frenzel. “This migration is driven by the need to respond
to increasing consumer demand for more individual
expression in the selection of products.”
According to Hollman, industrial and automotive coat-
ing applications show the strongest demand for metallic
pigments. “Emerging areas are consumer coil coating,
architectural paint, digital ink and securities,” he added.
Metallic pigment manufacturers have launched a num-
ber of new products to meet the ever-changing demands
of their customers. Schlenk offers a variety of specially
treated aluminum pigments for consumer electronics,
powder coatings and coil coatings. “These products offer
excellent durability and chemical resistance as well as
reduced conductivity,” said Schaller. “With our superfine
Alushine 7800 Schlenk offers a silverdollar pigment that
offers a smooth, near aluminum metal type effect. We
have also introduced our ultra-thin Alusstar series.”
“JDSU offers ChromaFlair Titanium Series
Aquamarine offers customers a new color combination
within our popular color shifting pigment range,” said
Bilodeau. “Aquamarine has a classic silver-to-blue color
combination that is popular in all markets.”
Among BASF’s latest offerings is Paliocrom Brilliant
Orange, a next-generation iron coated aluminum pig-
ment. “Based on the successful Paliocrom Orange pig-
ment, the new Brilliant Orange offers higher chromatici-
ty and lightness without sacrificing its excellent hiding
properties,” said Frenzel. “Additionally, it has an inherent
sparkle that offers a new effect in this attractive color-
space. Paliocrom Brilliant Orange has been especially
well received by the automotive community and is cur-
rently offered in new red, orange and gold color stylings.”
“With the automotive industry beginning to rebound
from the economic crisis, the market for metallic
pigments is beginning to show some improvement
this year,” said Andrea Frenzel, vice president, pigments, BASF North America. “Expectations for next
year are that automotive companies will continue to
look to color and effects to differentiate their products and drive growth.”
BASF also offers Lumina Royal Blue, a new red-shade
blue mica-based interference pigment that has the high-
est chromaticity in the market, according to the company.
Its main value is in creating new extreme shade high
chroma colors that previously were not feasible.
“Colorists are actively working to create new vibrant
effect shades that can be introduced to brand owners and
the design community,” Frenzel added. “Lumina Royal
Blue is available in exterior and industrial versions mak-
ing it suitable for automotive, coil, powder and general
coating applications.”
Sun Chemical recently launched Polymer Encapsulated
Aluminum Pigments, an expansion of the SunMetallics
aluminum pigment product line. These pigments were
introduced into the Chinese market for use in consumer
electronics, automotive trim, and other single coat applica-
tions that require a high level of acid and base resistance
or non-conductivity. Sun Chemical Performance Pigments’
Polymer Encapsulated Aluminum Pigments are designed
to maintain the brilliance and gloss of the base pigments
while resisting tarnishing in areas that are exposed to
acidic or basic materials. Additionally, the polymer encap-
sulation makes the pigments less conductive which is
essential for the consumer electronics market.
Sun Chemical has also recently introduced SunGEM, a
new industrial effect pigment product line that provides 10
new shades of intense high chroma color with excellent
opacity and a combination of pearlescent and metallic character, according to the company SunGEM’s newest colors
will help industrial designers set new trends and position
their products apart from their competition. In addition,
SunGEM demonstrates unique magnetic properties that
extend the world of effects beyond color, travel and brilliance to the ability to control pigment alignment and provide truly unique design capabilities. CW
