High Performance Pigments
and use of colored glass for decorative appearance, surface coatings to improve bonding, corrosion resistant properties, reducing energy consumption during manufacture, to list but a few
ongoing projects, all continue at a pace in Leeds.
Lavieri said that Lansco Colors has recently launched two
transparent iron oxides – LANOX 8916 Transparent Yellow
and LANOX 8817 Transparent Red. “While generally the term
high performance pigment is applied to organic pigments, these
transparent iron oxides offer a high performance in their intend-
ed coatings applications - automotive paints and wood stains,”
he said. “We have also added LANSCO 1319 Quinacridone Red
Violet 19, our yellowest and most opaque Violet 19 especially
suited for high quality industrial and automotive paints as well
as selected plastic and ink applications.”
Lavieri believes that the greatest potential for high performance
pigments is being realized, replacing classical pigments as the cost
Powerful Pigments
Checking in on high-performance pigments & their impact on coatings.
From afar, buildings encased in exterior
metal panels that feature PVDF architectural coatings seem to exhibit similar
appearances. Although they may have
different colors arranged in numerous architectural styles or installation methods,
for the most part, their visible aesthetics
remain fairly universal.
On closer examination, the coating
colors begin to develop distinct shade
differences, reveal their own unique characteristics and display various reflective
properties. Although visual properties are
important, the true power of a coating is
all in the pigments.
For decades, PVDF architectural coatings have scaled mountains of innovation
to arrive at where they are today. From enhancing sustainability and durability to expanding what is visibly possible with color
and light, modern coatings have matched
the industry demand for smarter and high-er-performing products.
To develop these high-performance
PVDF coatings, manufacturers created
unique formulations composed of resins, pigments, solvents and additives. Although these ingredients are important to
the final product, pigments are the ingredients that make the biggest impact.
Pigment Performance
Pigments come in various forms – inorganic
(ceramic), organic and what is often referred
to as pearlescent or metalescent. These
three variations of pigments constitute the
majority of coating formulations, and can
dictate the color, vibrancy, durability and
aesthetic quality of a finished product.
Organic pigments provide bright, vivid
colors, but have low resistance to fading
and weather poorly on their own. These
pigments are carbon-based, made from
petroleum compounds and are more ex-
pensive than inorganic pigments. Despite
offering dynamic colors, organic pigments
provide less protection from the elements,
and due to their heightened opacity, allow
ultraviolet light and oxygen to penetrate,
breaking chemical bonds.
Inorganic pigments are widely used
because their colors are more stable to
light and heat, and they do not bleed. In-
organic pigments are manufactured from
mineral compounds and are less expen-
sive than organic pigments. Although they
can last for many years, most coatings that
are comprised primarily of inorganic pig-
ments offer fewer bright colors and consist
mostly of earth tones. Historically, bright
inorganic pigments existed, but they con-
tained lead and cadmium, which are rarely
used today due to toxicity concerns.
Pearlescent (metalescent) pigments
are mainly composed of minuscule flakes
of aluminum, natural mica or synthetic
mica-like material. These pigments add
depth and sparkle to a finish, and can even
shift in color contingent upon the lighting
and from what angle a viewer takes while
looking at the coating.
Many coating innovations and colors
are created through the modification of
these pigments and additional coating
ingredients. Among much advancement,
several categories of innovation specifically standout in relation to pigments: solar
reflection, color and durability.
Reflecting Solar
Once trendy buzzwords and/or idealistic
pursuits, sustainability and ‘going green’
initiatives are no longer simple bonus ac-
creditations or over-ambitious corporate
goals. Rather, they are foundational com-
ponents of how our industry operates,
develops and builds. Although there’s no
end in sight, it’s worth taking a look at how
far we’ve come, and what pigment inno-
vations have brought to the sustainability
features of architectural coatings.
Use of solar reflective pigments is one
of the most important progressions in
coating formulation. When sunlight pen-
etrates the roof and exterior of a building
with infrared light, it causes a rise in interior
temperature. In urban areas, this problem
compounds with smog, asphalt and a lack
of vegetation, which creates a phenom-
enon known as the Heat Island Effect. This
effect causes temperature, air condition-
ing costs and electricity expenditures for
building owners to dramatically increase.
To help mitigate this issue, manufacturers have incorporated solar reflective
pigments into coating formulations that
reflect infrared radiation while still absorbing the same amount of visible light from
the sun. Through the use of these pigments, manufacturers have created solar
reflective coatings that stay much cooler
than their non-reflective counterparts.
These coatings help lower energy costs
without sacrificing durability, performance
or beauty, and provide a collection of color
options that previously absorbed much
higher amounts of infrared light, rather
than reflect them.
Coating manufacturers are not alone
in moving the industry forward when it
comes to sustainable innovation. Partners who also lead the way as pioneers in
the green movement include: Cool Roof
