a more extensive update on specialty
pigments in its specialty chemicals
update program. HPPs can allow companies to create more colorful coatings
that offer infrared (IR) reflectance and
meet cool roof performance levels,
delivering energy efficiency and cost
savings to building owners.
SUPPLY AND DEMAND EXPANSION
Makers of HPPs are focused on delivering better products and are also
making moves to become stronger
suppliers in an increasingly competitive and global HPP marketplace.
Some contend new sources of HPPs
may contribute to a flat market and
questionable quality supply.
“Many non-traditional suppliers are
entering the market with products
produced in India, China and Korea,”
said Swank. “[We don’t] see any supply or demand issues, but a shift
toward Asian suppliers could result in
quality and supply issues in the
future,” noted Swank.
With increased global competition,
HPP suppliers are ramping up their
production and R&D efforts. Late last
year, BASF increased its production
capacity for quinophthalone pigments
at its Ludwigshafen site to 1,400 metric tons per year, based on what it calls
“growing worldwide demand” for the
high-grade yellow pigment which it
sells under the Paliotol banner. More
recently, in June, BASF acquired pri-vately-held Engelhard Corp., which
boosts its stature in the pigments
marketplace. Engelhard’s portfolio
incudes products such as Mearlite
UWQ bismuth oxychloride pigment
for interior water-based coatings,
which meets more stringent requirements against VOCs, while delivering
excellent aesthetics and performance.
Clariant reported that in addition to
new chromophors, pigments with
improved dispersibility and products
focused on environmental concerns, it
is also offering new HPPs including
Hostaperm Yellow H5G (PY 213) and
Hostaperm Yellow H7G (PY 219).
Both offer high opacity, excellent
weather fastness and are suitable for
both water-based and solvent-based
systems. Clariant’s stable also
includes Hostaperm Yellow H7G—a
very green shade, highly chromatic
pigment that is an ideal partner to be
combined with the firm’s bismuth
vanadate—as well as Hostaperm Red
D2G 70 (PR 254) and Hostaperm Red
D3G 70 (PR 254). The latter two dike-to-pyrrolo-pyrrole (DPP) pigments
expand its range of high quality
opaque red pigments.
UK-based company Thomas Swan
Performance Products is touting
Pigment Red 264, which it bills as “one
of the most challenging colors to produce.” The pigment, marketed under
the Casacolour brand, is a DPP and
has been developed for durability in
automotive and transport applications
as well as industrial and architectural
unique range of special effect micas.
And there’s more to come, as Leen
reported that the company is planning
several new product introductions to
come late this year and into the first
half of 2007.
According to Swank, Ciba’s new
products include more opaque pigments for reduced paint usage, liquid
metal and chrome effects with color,
transparent reds and oranges for
effect shades and unique effects with
organic HPPs alone. Among its
newest offerings is Irgazin DPP
Cosmoray Orange, an orange pigment, which the firm was promoting
at the Asia Pacific Coatings Show.
According to Ciba, it offers a sophisticated, visually appealing orange
High-Performance & Special Effect Pigments
(Global Volume: 92,000 metric tons)
Dioxazine (violet)
2%
Perylene
(red & violet)
2.1%
Quinacridone
(red & violet)
4.5%
HPP & Other
(yellow, orange)
20%
Special Effect
Pigments
71.4%
Source: SRI Consulting
coatings. Two grades are available,
including a transparent version for
use in combination with effect pigments such as pearls and metallics for
automotive and industrial paint.
For Sun Chemical, critical areas in
its HPP R&D efforts include customer
specific collaborations that it says are
resulting in unique, tailor made solutions as well as general product development projects aimed at achieving
either a color space or a performance
characteristic not previously available.
In addition, Sun Chemical has
recently introduced Fastogen Super
Red 254 for use in automotive systems
as well as SunShine Synthetic Mica, a
shade and infinite styling opportunities and improves the production efficiency due to its good dispersibility
and high thermostability.
In the direction the market is headed, suppliers of HPPs are right to
build their business and expand their
offerings to take advantage of
increased global interest in HPPs in a
variety of end markets. According to
sources, HPP consumption is estimated to be in the four to five percent
range over the next several years.
“With the non-traditional market
recognizing the value in use of HPPs,
we foresee significant growth ahead,”
concluded Orlowski. CW
