What is Pigment

Pigments are used for coloring paint, ink, plastic, fabric, cosmetics, food and other materials. Most pigments used in manufacturing and the visual arts are dry colorants, usually ground into a fine powder. This powder is added to a vehicle (or binder), a relatively neutral or colorless material that suspends the pigment and gives the paint its adhesion.

A pigment changes the color of reflected or transmitted light as the result of wavelength-selective absorption. This physical process differs from fluorescence, phosphorescence, and other forms of luminescence, in which a material emits light.

The pigments are versatile coloring agents that comes with all round features to give credence to its suitability in a variety of mediums. Some of the striking features are given here:

• Excellent solvent resistance properties
• Excellent light and weather fastness
• High tinting strength
• Good over spray fastness when applied in paints
• Gives heat stability of around 300° C in the case of Polyolefins Plastics
• Easily dispersible
• Consistency and uniqueness of shades
• A good baking stability that makes them suitable for automotive and other industrial paints

Factors in choosing right pigments are as follows:

• Color
• pH value
• Hiding efficiency
• Bulking value
• Density
• Hardness
• Oil absorption
• Refractive index