Coatings World - August 2017

High Performance Pigments
August 2017 www.coatingsworld.com Coatings World | 43

of the better performing pigments has dropped precipitously and brand owners have demanded safer more durable colors.

Ron Levi, president of New Brook International, said that
New Brook continues to bring new environmentally and reg-
ulatory-friendly replacement pigments to market in the yel-
low through red areas of the color spectrum. “As REACH and
similar legislations take effect, formulators are working hard
on finding close color/performance matches to their old, heavy
metal containing products,” he said. “We see the industrial coat-
ings and inks markets as top targets for these pigments.”

Levi added that he sees the industrial coatings applications, particularly in the infrastructure sectors, as leading the growth for New Brook’s pigments. “Not only in the volume of projects, but, also as emphasis is placed on safety colors, as well as, trends in style for the yellow, orange and red paints and inks throughout the world,” he said. CW

Rating Council (CRRC), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Energy Star.

Color

The most obvious and visible end result of different coating pigment formulations is color. However, it’s not just the amount of new and innovative colors. Highly specialized pigment formulations have also led to the generation of special-effect coatings that have expanded aesthetic possibilities.

Valspar recently introduced two special-effect coating lines, Fluropon Effects Nova and Rustica, which have implemented pigments in exciting new ways. The coatings can be customized to match nearly any color and vary in intensity, subtlety of depth and sparkle effects. Today, 30 to 45 percent of all Valspar color matches are performed with pearlescent coatings, capturing nearly every hue under the sun.

Fluropon Rustica coatings contain special pigments that create richer, more saturated colors with an antique aesthetic. Through this new formulation, natural and polychromatic colors feature a weathered, antique look, which is perfect for projects that want to highlight a natural palette of oranges, rusts, coppers and ambers.

Fluropon Nova coatings are on an entirely different side of the color spectrum, utilizing pearlescent pigments. They offer rich color with a vivid sparkle in either gold or silver, and can be matched to nearly any desired color to fit the needs of the project. The richer, deeper colors that can be found in this line still offer an intense sparkle, something that was never before seen in 70 percent PVDF architectural coatings. In the past, adding sparkle meant sacrificing color integrity. Now, dynamic, eye-catching colors are attainable thanks to pigment innovation.

Composed of highly specialized pigment formulations and other technologies, these unique coatings can add three-dimensional appearances or outbursts of color and design. Although earth tones and grays still dominate in overall popularity, trends are shifting toward coppers, golds and additional new colors.

Special effect coatings can be found on surfaces from metal wall panels and roof systems, to soffits, fascia, curtainwalls and more. As more architects and building owners incorporate these products into their design, the more colorful and visually diverse our skylines and neighborhoods will become.

For the Long Haul

Sustainability features and dramatic colors are essential to high-performance coatings, but if they don’t last, few people will use them. Durability features are vital to the long-term success of a building’s performance and aesthetics, and pigments play a major role.

Valspar technicians are diligent about selecting the optimum pigments for a given job, providing products that meet warranty, performance, color, and environmental goals. When these offerings are required, it often limits color range and warranty options, especially if a high warranty is required. For the most part, coating manufacturers will combine inorganic pigments with premium resins (PVDF), and organic pigments with less-expensive resins (polyesters).

Pigments for exterior, high-perfor-
mance architectural coatings require
high-end products that offer the premium
performance and durability – especially
resistance to ultraviolet rays. Color warran-
ties are based on the percentage balance
between organic and inorganic pigments
used to produce the final coating color.

At Valspar, our warranties address the film integrity, chalk and fading of a coating. Film integrity is determined by the resin system used – PVDF, SMP or polyester. Chalking and fading is caused by the breakdown of the pigments. Chalking, most clearly recognized by the appearance of a white powder, results from a breakdown of carbon bonds by ultraviolet light. To combat this, the pigment selected should be an ultraviolet absorber or reflector. Fading is triggered by the breakdown of a pigment itself.

To ensure these pigment formulations live up to expectations, Valspar places performance above all else. This is why our Fort Meyers testing site is so important to the development of all new coating formulations. Known as the “test-fence” by employees, this site provides the ability to measure the weathering of every color and coating formulation over time. Whether it’s ultraviolet rays, humidity, salt spray, corrosion or more, the site offers a literal perfect storm for testing the performance and longevity of our products and various pigment formulations.

With so many important durability factors and end-result performance features to consider, it’s clear to see why pigment selection and testing is so essential. No matter the color or goal you’re trying to achieve, advances in pigment technology and coating formulation continue to expand what’s possible. Our job is to protect your vision, and ensure your creation looks and remains beautiful. All you need to do is make it happen.