Pearl Pigments
Understanding Applications of Pearl Pigments:
Pearl effect pigments
in Plastic
Pearl effect pigments can be used in nearly all thermoplastics and most processes. Their effects are most  intense in transparent resins like PS, PP, PE, PVC, acrylic, styrene -block copolymers, and silicone.
It is also possible to attain in pearl pigments, pearlescence and luster in polymers having little or no transparency as with nylon 6, ABS, and HIPS but only with higher pigment loadings. Pearl effect pigments combined with dark absorption pigments in opaque polymers can yield a strong reflection color and produce pearlescent effects of great richness and depth.
Highly filled plastics are not good candidates for pearl pigments because opaque fillers scatter light, eliminating the pearlescent effect. Most users of pearl pigments limit fillers to less than 1% in systems containing pearl pigments.
Pearl pigments can be used in many thermosetting plastics, including unsaturated polyester, acrylic, urethane, and epoxy as well as cast polyester cultured marble and onyx components for countertops, floors, furniture, and fireplace elements. pearl effect pigments can also be added to cast acrylic sheet and alloyed or blended materials such as rubber-toughened polycarbonate, nylon/ABS, and PC/ABS.
Compounding Pearlescent Pigments in plastics
Pearl pigments can be master batched containing 25% pearlescent pigments (up to 50%) in most resins by drum tumbling or mixing in twin-shell, ribbon, or high-speed blenders. Pearl pigments are never ground or subjected to extended cycles or heavy shear because these can shear off the metal oxide cladding and damage the platelets. Banbury-type or continuous mixers are most often used to create pearlescent master batches, although two-roll mills, calenders, vertical intensive mixers, and double planetary mixers are also suitable as long as you avoid excessive shear.
Pearl pigments are usually incorporated in powdered polymers such as PVC and PE by simple blending. Blending usually begins with organic pigments, followed by inorganic pigments, and lastly the pearl pigments.
If you are interested in our pearlescent pigments or need more information about these products, visit Pritty Pearlescent Pigments for more information.
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