wraps, publication printing and tobacco packaging among others.
Metallic inks are used to design attractive packaging materials that
can evoke an interest in the minds of the consumers. The demand
from traditional segments of the metallic inks market such as to-
bacco packaging, beverage cartons and gift wraps are expected to
remain strong in the next few years. Apart from the conventional
applications, the demand for metallic inks from applications such
as publication printings, cosmetics packaging and specialty coated
papers is anticipated to rise significantly in the coming years. The
growth in the metallic inks market would subsequently result in the
rise in demand for metallic pigments in the future.
The report adds that metallic pigments are used in powder
coatings; some of the major applications of metallic powder
coatings are architectural aluminum, office furniture, automo-
tive components, and lawn and garden equipment.
“One of the main reasons for the growing use of powder coatings
is their low impact on the environment as compared to other types
of coatings,” the report continued. “Aluminum is the most popular
metallic pigment used in the powder coatings with availability of
wide variety of shades. Moreover, gold bronze pigments are available as pale gold, rich gold and rich pale. Furthermore, stainless steel
pigments are used for exterior coating applications and pearlescent
pigments are used for both interior as well as exterior applications.
The advantages of metallic pigments such as high quality finish and
availability of wide range of shades are predicted to drive the market
for metallic pigments in the powder coatings segment.”
Market Expectations and Trends
Metallic pigment coatings suppliers have generally found an increased interest in this market, and have identified several key trends.
According to Beth C. Earnst, BASF’s manager of marketing
communications for Dispersions & Pigments, North America,
silver shades based on aluminum flakes still represent the major
portion of the metallic pigment market.
“In 2015, BASF has seen demand for our colored aluminum
effect pigments substantially exceed automotive and industrial pigment growth rates,” she said. “This is due to their ability to deliver
brilliant metallic luster in very high chroma hues with excellent hiding. As a result, BASF will expanding production of our Paliocrom
iron oxide coated aluminum effect pigments by over 20 percent in
2017 to support growth in trending red, orange and gold shades.
“Traditional silver aluminum stylings have given way toward
high chroma metallic stylings in a range of hues. The ongoing
trend towards waterborne basecoats has created specific interest in our passivated versions. Through continued expansion
of shade availability we continue to push the color space limits
with high chroma metallic. BASF’s use of superior materials and
processes combined with proper application methods deliver the
brightest shades with high impact flop behavior,” Earnst added.
Aaron Hollman, global product manager – effect pigments,
Sun Chemical Performance Pigments, said that both decorative
and functional metallic effects continue to be strategic markets
for Sun Chemical.
“In the past few years, we have seen outstanding growth of
our Benda-Lutz brand of metallic pigments and preparations
for brilliant finishes and mirror-like chrome effects for both liq-
uid and powder coatings,” Hollman said. “We have also seen
increased demand in industrial coatings for improved perfor-
mance characteristics like corrosion resistance, barrier effects
and thermal durability. We are optimistic that this upward trend
will continue in 2015 and beyond.”
Hollman added: “Many markets, most notably China, have
developed new regulations designed to improve air quality and
reduce VOC emissions. This has required paint producers to
transition from solvent to waterborne or low-VOC formula-
tions. The ever-growing importance of waterborne technology
has created exciting innovation opportunities for metallic pig-
ment manufacturers. Sun Chemical will continue to focus our
research and development efforts on expanding our product of-
ferings for sustainable coatings.”
Eckart Americas Corp. has seen positive development with
its effect pigments in the coatings market in 2015 with North
America and Asia showing the strongest growth; this growth is
expected to continue into 2016.
Thomas Hughes, global key account manager at Eckart,
said that the major trends his company sees impacting the
metallic pigments market continue to be cost and environ-
mental regulations.
“We align our development efforts with the market and our
customer needs in order to provide increased value with our
technical solution offerings,” he said. “There continues to be an
increased demand for environmentally-friendly coatings and we
support this with our technical leadership position with stabi-
lized and encapsulated pigments for water based coatings sys-
tems and pigments for powder coatings.”
Thomas Schaller, president of Schlenk Metallic Pigments
USA, said that he has seen the demand for metallic pigments
increasing and is expecting a positive second half as well.
Karen Schneider, Schlenk’s application technology manager
coatings, added that end users “expect their products to look
distinctive and valuable. During the last several years, the trend
toward liquid metal or chrome-mirror effects have amplified.
Demands for metallic pigments offering improved optical and
technical properties have increased, which is an area where we
clearly put our focus on.”
Areas of Demand
The demand for metallic pigments can be found in several markets, though the suppliers contacted by Coatings World unanimously agreed that the automotive market is the largest in terms
of demand.
Earnst, of BASF, said that while the automotive market remains the largest, it takes time for new pigments to be adopted
based on longer automotive durability validation testing.
“Earlier adopters include 3D applications such as smart
phones, motorcycles, and various industrial applications including appliances. High interest persists in liquid metal effect
pigments like Metasheen. However, adoption of this class of pigments in mainstream applications has been limited due to substrate imperfection telegraphing, flake orientation challenges,
