Aluminum flake pigment shapes

Metallic Pigments. These pigments are metal flakes of various sizes made up of aluminum, copper, zinc, and/or their alloys. The aluminum flakes develop the silver metallic colors, whereas the copper, zinc, and aluminum alloys produce the gold, copper, brass, and bronze colors. The metal effect is modified, not only by shape and size, but also by perticle size distribution within a given product. Since aluminum, in particular, as a fine dry powder, can form explosive mixtures with air, most of these materials are commercially available in paste or liquid concentrates. In addition, surface treatments of these materials enhance their appearance and performance. Flakes of other metals, such as stainless steel, are used for surface protection purposes such as corrosion resistance and electrical conductivity. 

Thus, with adjustments to size, size distribution, and shape, aluminum pigments can be used to create various kinds of "sparkle" effects. Pigment supplier Silberline categorizes five different kinds of aluminum flake effects [9-15] ... 

Flake aluminum pigments with varying platelet thicknesses and shapes are used for corrosion protection [5.175]. For standard specifications, see Table 1 ( Aluminum pastes and pigments ). They are coated with a water-repellent, fatty film and are therefore particularly suitable for conventional solventbome coating systems. They have outstandingly good weather resistance [5.175]—[5.177]. 

Metal effect pigments are flake-shaped metallic particles supplied in the form of powders, pastes, pellets, suspensions or color concentrates [5.166-5.168]. Typical metal effect pigments include aluminum ( silver bronze ) and copper- and copper/zinc-alloys ( gold bronze ). 

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