The Intense Color Journey
When designing boundary-pushing
products, innovative methods are explored and new materials tested to see
what achievements can be made that
will ultimately advance the industry as
a whole. One of the more interesting
and popular developments in coatings
over the years is a pearlescent finish
that can add shine, shimmer and even
change colors.
Research and development teams
put much thought and testing into
creating this illustrious type of coating, testing different formulations to
achieve exactly what they were looking for. Pearlescent pigments contain
mica flakes that are coated with different oxides, including titanium dioxide,
tin oxide or iron oxide. When light
hits the oxide-coated mica particles, it
is partially reflected out and partially
absorbed in. As the light travels into
the particles and the various layers of
oxide surrounding them, a sense of visual depth is created which
adds dimension and distinction to the finish and product featuring the coating.
Essentially, the color that is produced depends on the oxide
coating, which varies in thickness related to the chemical process used to coat the mica particles. Consequently, coating colors and the amount of shimmer vary by changing the thickness
of the oxide. For example, on the same structure you might see
a silver appearance at one thickness level, and on another you
will see yellow or blue.
The same scientific and chemical process applies for color-shifting pigments, as well – the color-change depends on both
the chemical formulation of the base coat pigment and the
oxide-coated mica particles. The formulations are so advanced
that they can affect how transmitted light at a particular angle will be seen and “assign” different colors to different light
angles. The color-shifting mica pigments are suspended in a
fairly transparent clear coat that is then layered on top of a
base coat. Consequently, you can take the same color-shifting
pigment, the micas in the clear coat, and layer it over a black or
white base coat to see completely different colors and intensi-ties in coatings.
Now, there are ways to expand these pearlescent finishes
beyond the average colors of white, silver and beige to create
a spectrum of colors, including reds and oranges. Historically,
there have been issues with these particular colored coatings
because they contained undesirable materials, like lead and cadmium. While responsible coating manufacturers stopped using
these chemicals in their formulations, eliminating these materials also changed the make-up of the finishes and restricted the
creation of these coatings, which happen to be some of the most
sought after colors from architects.
Over many years, research has been conducted and products
have been tested time and again to create these specific color
coatings in a responsible way that still hold their vivid hues
for many years. Thankfully, some coating manufacturers have
found a way to produce rich colors that add dimension and
last for more than 20 years, keeping in mind the fact that the
durability of the color is just as important as the initial bold
color impact. Fluropon Rustica is one of these product lines
that features super intense pigments that stand up to extreme
weather elements. Fluropon Nova is another that contains the
pearlescent finish that so many architects want for their most
prominent projects. By using newly created specialty pigments,
the industry as a whole is moving into color spaces that haven’t
been reached previously.
Coating manufacturers want to provide more offerings and
styles to architects while keeping the durability and quality of
the product in mind. They also want to encourage a broader
conversation around color and discuss what is trending and
why. It can be hard to imagine all of the color possibilities that
are attainable without actually seeing them, so let’s explore
some of today’s trendiest projects that feature bold colors and
innovative formulations.
Trending Colors
Pearlescent Pigments:
• The metal panels of the Altara Center in Honduras feature
a sparkling, color-shifting effect as the light reflects differently off of each mica particle in the coating. The custom
blue/purple finish shifts colors throughout the day as the sun
changes position and adds dimension to the end product.
• Prismatic colors project a startling visual depth on the Wolf
Creek Library in Atlanta that suggests the building changes
Odyssey Elementary was devised to obtain LEED Gold certification through its use of 1,200 solar panels,
natural lighting and use of sustainable materials.
