Pearlescent inks

Pearlescent lusters are commonly seen in many paints, inks, and cosmetics. The pearlescent pigment technology that brings us these unusual effects relies on a common mineral to achieve these opalescent qualities. 

Lustre/pearlescent pigments have found wide application in automotive coatings, coloured plastics, synthetic leather, printing inks, ceramic products and cosmetics, e.g. nail polish, lipstick and mascara. 

On the other hand, the resistance of laminates with printed decor papers depends very much on the substance weight of the overlay paper used to protect the ink layers. There is a tendency, unfortunately, for an overlay to impair the definition of print and brightness of colour—which can be undesirable, or, particularly with more exotic designs such as metallized and pearlescent effects, even unacceptable. 

Everyone by now is aware of pearlescent and interference pigments. Although not a household word, they are used extensively in every imaginable application. They are incorporated in plastics, coated on substrates, used in printing inks, in cosmetics and used extensively in... 

Chem. Descrip. Mica coated with titanium dioxide Uses Pearlescent pigment in general decorative coatings and printing inks... 

Chem. Descrip. Bismuth oxychloride in nitrocellulose vehicle Uses Pearlescent pigment for dip and spray coatings, inks, and resin systems... 

Uses Pearlescent pigment for printing inks, coalings, plastics, food pkg., children s toys... 

Uses Emollient, skin conditioner in cosmetics lubricant, processing aid for butyl rubber, adhesives, inks, cosmetics, greases, paints opacifier, pearlescent, emulsifier, vise, builder for surfactant systems defoamer in food-contact paper/paperboard Reguiatory FDA 21CFR 176.210... 

This difference in refractive indices, arising equally on the interface between air/ oil film or oil film/water, is a prerequisite for the well-known iridescent color images in these media. Small highly refractive platelets of pearlescent pigments align themselves parallel in optically thin systems such as paints, printing inks, or plastics. Interference effects develop when the distances of the various layers or the thicknesses of the platelets have the right values. 

Pearlescent pigments are used to obtain pearl, iridescent (rainbow), or metallic effects, and in transparent color formulations to obtain brilliance or two-tone color, luster flops and color travel effects (changing with viewing angle). The most important applications are plastics, industrial coatings, printing inks, cosmetics, and automotive paints. 

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