Industrial Pigments for Plastics

Plastic Pigments

Pigments, which are made of natural and synthetic materials, are colourants that give materials like paper and plastics their colour. They are not soluble in water or oil. Both pigments and dyes are distinct sorts of colourants, but when it comes to colouring plastics, certain plastic pigments are chosen over dyes, mostly due to their superior fastness properties. 

Chemical substances called plastic colourants are used to colour plastic. These substances express themselves as pigments and colours. Based on the type of polymeric resin that needs to be coloured, the type of colourant is selected. Veeraco Colourants Private Limited has very strict compliance requirements and aligns with innovation and ongoing improvement.

 The Properties of Pigment

Transparency, warping or nucleation resistance, light fastness, Weather-ability or ageing, and warping or ageing resistance are the main performance characteristics of pigments in plastics.

 Weather-Ability and Age

 The useful life of plastic products can be negatively impacted by sunlight exposure and various types of artificial lighting. Therefore, UV protection and weather-resistance pigments are needed for polymers that are regularly used outside.

Utilising outdoor exposure experiments in the relevant climatic regions is the only practical way to evaluate weathering resistance. This is not always possible. Accelerated testing, or CYCLE WOM 119, is a popular substitute.

 Along with the pigment composition and the required fastness standards for the finished product, the light stabiliser system must be taken into account.

 Light Fastness 

 If a pigment has good Light Fastness, it does not necessarily mean that it has good weather-fastness. Light Fastness is a measure of the colour fastness of a plastic article when used in indoor applications (UV light exposure without direct Water contact).

 The choice of pigment for plastics used indoors is influenced by several factors, including polymer class, pigment concentration, Titanium dioxide presence (which typically accelerates fading), The necessary light fastness, and Service circumstances.

 The article's surface, the history of processing heat, and the stabilisation package can all have an impact on pigment performance. In general, inorganic pigments are light-fast than biological pigments.

Nucleation and Warping

The final qualities of a plastic object are determined by the degree of crystallinity and the rate of crystallisation. Particularly in HDPE injection moulding, organic pigments are known to affect these parameters during the cooling phase of plastic production.

Transparency

In most cases, transparency is attained by minimising pigment particle size. This is accomplished by covering the newly generated particles to stop crystal development as soon as possible. Rosin or rosin derivatives are the materials utilised for this coating the most frequently. This has the extra benefit of making high-transparency printing ink pigments more easily disseminated, which is particularly helpful for those pigments.

 Conclusion

Plastic product colours can impact consumers' purchasing decisions and assist build brand identification. Most of the time, consumers who use plastic acquire products from stores that sell them or from plastic dyes manufacturers in India. Veeraco Colourants Private Limited's history dates back to 1952. Various types of dyes and pigments are produced, supplied, and exported by them. As the years passed, the hard effort began to pay off, and today they are one of the top dyes and pigments companies in India. 

 

 

Why is a Pigment distinct from a dye?

Different materials are coloured using both pigments and dyes, but their methods are very, very different. Solubility, or the propensity to dissolve in a liquid, particularly water, is the key. Imagine two glasses of water, one with salt and the other with muck, standing next to each other.

Solubility

The murky water is brown and contains a variety of silt and mud particles suspended in it. If you give it enough time, the particles will eventually fall to the glass's bottom. The mixture is referred to as a suspension.

Grab some salt water now. The salt entirely dissolves in the water after being combined with it. To prevent evaporation and prevent a coating of salt from condensing on the bottom of the glass, cover the glass with a lid. A solution is a name given to this mixture.

Like the dirt in the previous illustration, pigments are tiny colour particles that float in liquids (usually not water, and are called the dispersing agent or vehicle). As opposed to dyes, which are substances that, like the salt in the previous example, dissolve in a medium (such as water) to produce a colourant.

Application

There are more distinctions between pigments and dyes. Both pigments and dyes have very different methods for actually adhering to the substance. While pigments are painted onto the surface, dyes are absorbed into the material and form a chemical bond.

To form a coating on top, the base is coated with the dispersion agent and pigment combination. In essence, the dispersion agent causes it to stick to the surface of the substance.

Instead of being painted on as a layer, dyes chemically attach to a material and really become a part of it. The chemical makeup of the material being dyed and the dye itself determine whether or not the dye will adhere. A mordant is a substance that is sometimes required for a dye to bond.

Additional variations

Pigments are substantially lightfast than dyes in terms of reactivity to light. A dyed object loses its colour when exposed to light, especially sunshine since it causes the molecules' electrical bonds to rupture. As a result, dyed material frequently degrades when exposed to light and can occasionally fade quite quickly. (Although this is also true for some pigments; this is why art museums typically keep their lights low to preserve their paintings.)The majority of the time, dye buyers purchase their goods from shops that sell them or from dyes and pigments companies in India. 

Uses

Dye is typically used in the paper and textile industries. Wood and leather are frequently coloured as well. The same goes for gasoline, lubricating oils, polishes, and waxes. Natural or synthetic dyes that have been deemed safe for human consumption are frequently used to colour food. Contrarily, pigments typically give rubber, plastic, and resin materials their colours.

Dyes and Pigment requirements and their differences

The most significant colourants used to add colour or alter colour are dyes and pigments. The textile, pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, plastic, paint, ink, photography, and paper industries all utilise them extensively. The relative solubility of dyes and pigments differs; although pigments are basically insoluble in the liquid media in which they are disseminated, dyes are soluble. Before comparing different dyes and pigments, it is important to understand their fundamentals and the qualifications needed to work as a dye or pigment.

What does dye or dyestuff mean?

Organic chemicals that are soluble and colourful called dyes are typically sprayed on fabrics after being dissolved in water. They are made with the intention of forming a dependable bond with the polymer molecules that make up the textile fibre. At various points during the textile manufacturing process, several classes of dye are applied to various types of fibre. The textile business uses a wide variety of dyeing procedures. Typically, consumers of dyes get their products from merchants who sell those products or from top dyes manufacturers in India

The fabrics are coloured with dyes. To give human eyes the perception of colour, dyes are chemicals that absorb and reflect light at specific wavelengths. Natural and synthetic dyes are the two main categories of dyes. Natural colours are intricate concoctions of elements originating from organic materials like plants, animals, or minerals. In a lab, synthetic dyes are created. To create synthetic dyes, chemicals are created. Additionally, some synthetic colours contain metals. During the dyeing process, not all of the dyes are bonded to the fibre.

What a True Dye Must Have?

Dyes are not the only colourful compounds. But a real dye must have the following characteristics:

• A consistent colour is required.

• It should not easily undergo structural changes, have a pleasing hue, and have a durable finish.

• It needs to have the capacity to either fix on or attach to material made of solution. For instance, azobenzene is coloured yet unable to adhere to a surface. Azobenzene is not a dye as a result. A dye might also not be able to colour all kinds of substrates. For instance, cotton cannot be permanently dyed yellow with picric acid, while silk or wool can. As a result, a dye can either develop a chemical union or a close physical union with the substrate being dyed.

• It must be water-soluble or create a stable and effective dispersion in water. It also needs to be soluble in a substance other than water. It should be kept in mind, nevertheless, that the dye should be picked up well from the medium.

• The dye-subject material must naturally bind to the chosen dye and be able to absorb it from a solution or aqueous dispersion. if auxiliary ingredients are required, in the presence of proper concentration, temperature, and pH conditions.

• whenever a dye is anchored to a surface. To wash, dry clean, sweat, light, heat, and other organisations must come first. Water, acids, and alkalis must not be able to damage it. Due to the alkaline nature of washing soda and washing soap, in particular the latter. There is probably no dye that can be assured won't change shade in any situation.

• Due to various interactions between the molecular orbitals of the dye and the substrate, as well as the ease with which the dye can release the energy it has absorbed into its surroundings without self-decomposition, a given dye's colour and fastness may vary depending on the substrate.

The fixed dye must possess fastness characteristics, such as

• Sensitivity to light,

• Speed of temperature change,

• Water, diluted acids, alkalis, different organic solvents, and soap solution resistance

What exactly is a pigment?

Pigments are insoluble substances used in paints, printing inks, ceramics, and polymers. They are applied by dispersion in an appropriate media. The majority of utilised colours are organic substances. Due to their exceptional light fastness, pigments are frequently used to colour fabrics like cotton, wool, and other man-made fibres. They are attached to the cloth with the aid of resins despite having no attraction for fibres. The cloths are heated up after being dyed. Compared to inorganic pigments, organic pigments generally have a lesser hiding power but a higher tinting strength. Consumers of pigments get their products from merchants who sell those products or from dyes and pigments manufacturers in India. 

Pigment requirements:

• Sensitivity to light:

Fastness to light, which depends on the medium in which the pigments are disseminated, is the most significant criterion by which pigments are assessed. Pigments generally react to light more slowly in light tints than in dark tints.

• Rapidity to Heat:

A pigment should withstand temperatures that are not too high. This is especially true for thermosetting colours and surface coatings that have been heated until they have "cured" or polymerized. Poorer pigments may suffer chemical disintegration as a result of heat treatment or physical transition from one modification to another, losing colour and other qualities.

• A solvent's insolubility

In all media, a pigment should not dissolve. However, this requirement is not entirely met. The pigment may crystallise as a result of solubility in the medium or solvent, changing the paint's ability to retain its colour.

• Acid's rapidity:

When used in acidic media or when exposed to acid vapours, pigments must be acid-fast.

• The rapidity with Alkalis:

If pigments are to be employed in the creation of distempers or the colouring of plaster surfaces, they must be alkali-fast.

• Water Insolubility

It is considered ideal that the pigment is completely insoluble in water. When pigments are slightly soluble in water or another liquid medium, this is referred to as "bleeding."

One pigment cannot meet all of the aforementioned parameters. However, many organic pigments have been created in order to satisfy all of these. The majority of the many types of dyestuffs include these organic pigments.

Why are Basic Dyes effective?

Basic dyes are a type of dye that are composed of positively charged ions. They are also known as cationic dyes. They are typically used to dye fibres such as silk, wool, and nylon, and are also used to dye the negatively charged surfaces such as hair and leather. Basic dyes manufacturers in India, are known for their bright and intense colours and are often used in the textile and fashion industries. They have high substantivity, which means they have a strong affinity for the fibres they are dyeing and they can produce deep shades with good colourfastness. However, they are not suitable for dyeing cellulosic fibres such as cotton, rayon, and linen because they do not have the same chemical structure as the fibres.

There are several benefits of using basic dyes:

• Bright and intense colours: Basic dyes are known for producing bright and intense colours, which makes them ideal for use in the textile and fashion industries.
• High substantivity: Basic dyes have high substantivity, which means they have a strong affinity for the fibres they are dyeing and can produce deep shades with good colourfastness.
• Versatile: Basic dyes can be used to dye a wide range of fibres including silk, wool, nylon, and synthetic fibres, making them versatile for various applications.
• Durable: Basic dyes are known for their good lightfastness and wash fastness, making the coloured fabrics and materials more durable.
• Cost-effective: Basic dyes are relatively inexpensive, making them a cost-effective option for many industries.
• Environmentally friendly: Some of the basic dyes are made of natural ingredients and they can be biodegraded which makes them a more environmentally friendly option compared to some other types of dyes.

Read More : Basic Dyes | Plastic Dyes

Most Important things of Dyes and Pigments

Dyes and pigments are both used to colour materials, but they work in different ways. Dyes are soluble in the medium they are being used to colour, and they work by chemically bonding with the substrate. Pigments, on the other hand, are insoluble particles that are suspended in the medium they are being used to colour. Veeraco Colourants Pvt Ltd is a leading Dyes and Pigments Manufacturers in India. They work by scattering light in a way that allows certain wavelengths to be absorbed, resulting in a colour change. Pigments are often used in paints, inks, and plastics, while dyes are more commonly used in textiles, fabrics, and food.

1. Dyes are also commonly used in the food industry to colour products like candies, soft drinks and sauces
2. Pigments are also used in the production of ceramics, glass, and metallurgy
3. Dyes can be used for medical diagnostic and treatment, such as in MRI imaging, and in staining for microscope slides
4. Pigments are also used in personal care products, such as makeup and hair dye
5. Dyes and pigments are used in the printing industry for creating colour images and text
6. Dyes are used in the production of solar cells, to enhance their efficiency
7. Pigments are also used in the construction industry to colour and protect buildings, bridges, and other structures.

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What are Pigments – What are the Types of Pigments?

 

Plastic Pigments are materials that change the colour of the light reflected onto them due to selective wavelength absorption. The main use of pigments is to colour different types of materials be it textiles or paint. Pigments require the use of a binder in order to be mixed with liquids as they are insoluble on their own and are primarily used in industries such as colouring paints, inks, cosmetics, and plastics, etc.

The main 2 types of Plastic pigments are organic and inorganic pigments.

Organic pigments are formed naturally and have been used for centuries. They have a simple chemical structure and are termed organic as they acquire their colours from minerals and metals in them. Organic Plastic Dyes Manufacturers in India produce them through a simple process that involves washing, drying, powdering, and combining the pigment into a formulation for the dying process to begin.

In the case of Inorganic pigments, they are formulated in labs and are also referred to as synthetic pigments, this increases the scope of control and allows for brighter colours and opaque pigments to be created. Inorganic pigments are manufactured by a process termed oxidation. Inorganic pigment suppliers provide this type of pigment mainly to paints, plastics, synthetic fibers, and the ink industry.

While dyes dissolve into liquids easily thanks to their soluble nature Pigments require the use of a binder which can seem negative. Dye Manufacturers in India produce dyes mainly to be used in the textile and paper industry, whereas pigments are used for colouring paints, inks, cosmetics, and plastics. This makes the purpose of the 2 mediums very different and therefore removes and competition or comparison between them.