Pigment particle shape

The value of pigments results from their physical—optical properties. These ate primarily deterrniaed by the pigments physical characteristics (crystal stmcture, particle size and distribution, particle shape, agglomeration, etc) and chemical properties (chemical composition, purity, stabiUty, etc). The two most important physical—optical assets of pigments are the abiUty to color the environment in which they ate dispersed and to make it opaque. 

Already dispersed pigment particles may for various reasons reassemble and form loosely combined units with various shapes. The most important among these are flocculates (Fig. 4), assemblies of wetted crystallites and/or aggregates or smaller agglomerates. They usually form in a low viscosity medium which fills the interior cavities of the pigment flocculates. Flocculates are therefore mechanically more labile than agglomerates and can usually be broken up by weak shear such as stirring. 

Pigment-related aspects, which involve the chemical constitution, crystalline modification, particle size distribution, particle shape, surface structure, preparation, and processing of the pigment powder, especially in terms of drying and milling. 

It has often been observed that the coloristic properties of an organic pigment are a function not only of the size of particles but also of their shape. This is due to the anisotropy of the optical properties in different crystallographic directions within the crystal forms of a pigment. In 1974 [5, 6], it was demonstrated that of the equally sized but differently shaped particles of beta copper phthalocyanine blue, the almost completely cubic, i.e., more or less isometric form produces greenish blue shades, while acicular forms are responsible for reddish blue hues. The optical behavior of ordered pigment particles in systems has been reported in the literature [7, 8]. 

Particle Size. The important physical data for inorganic pigments comprise not only optical constants, but also geometric data mean particle size, particle size distribution, and particle shape [1.8]. The standards used for the terms that are used in this section are listed in Table 1 ( Particle size analysis ). 

The concept of particles and particle shape corresponds to that used in the recommended and internationally accepted classification of pigment particles given in [1.9] (see Fig. 1 and Table 5). 

Hardness and Abrasiveness. The abrasiveness of a pigment is not identical to its intrinsic hardness, i.e., the hardness of its primary particles. In practice the Mohs hardness is not therefore a useful indication of the abrasiveness of a pigment. Abrasion rather depends on pigment particle size and shape and is usually caused by the sharp edges of the particles. A standard test procedure for determining abrasiveness does not exist. A method based on the abrasion of steel balls by the pigment is described in [1.12],... 

Resistance to light and weather generally depends on the chemical composition, structure, defects, particle shape and size, and concentration of the pigment [1.53], However, these properties also depend on the medium in which the pigment is used. Testing is carried out by open-air weathering, accelerated weathering, and chemical test methods. 

Several processes are available for producing high-quality iron oxide pigments with controlled mean particle size, particle size distribution, particle shape, etc. (Table 23) ... 

The metal effect depends not only on particle size and particle size distribution, but also on the orientation of the metal flakes within the coating film, particle shape, the transparency of the binder matrix, and the presence of colored pigments or dyes. 

A letterpress printing ink is a dispersion of pigment particles in a polymer solution. Deviation from ideality is assured by the presence of polymers of high molecular weight dissolved in solvents of differing polarity so as to disperse particles of differing polarity, shape, and size. 

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