Pearlescent pigments are a type of lustrous pigment, also known as non-metallic pigments with a metallic luster because they can present a certain metallic sheen.

• Reflection Principle

Pearlescent pigments have the sparkling effect of metallic pigments and can produce the soft luster of natural pearls. When exposed to sunlight, they can create multi-layered reflections, with the interaction of reflected light presenting a soft, dazzling, or colorful sheen and color.

• Classification

Pearlescent pigments can be divided into inorganic substrate pearlescent pigments and mica substrate pearlescent pigments.

Inorganic substrate pearlescent pigments:Inorganic substrate pearlescent pigments mainly include mercuric chloride, basic lead carbonate, arsenic acid lead, phosphoric acid lead, and bismuth hydroxide. However, these types of pearlescent pigments either have potential toxicity or poor chemical stability, which greatly limits their range of use.

Mica substrate pearlescent pigments:Natural mica is an excellent substrate for preparing mica pearlescent pigments, widely used due to its abundant resources and lower manufacturing costs. Mica titanium pearlescent pigments are the most researched and technically mature type of pearlescent pigments. Due to the different refractive indices of titanium dioxide and mica substrates, a better pearlescent effect, color effect, and angle-flash color effect are produced through multiple reflections and interference of light.

• Characteristics

1. Chemical resistance, water resistance, resistance to dilute acids, alkalis, and organic solvents. Under normal temperature, acids and alkalis cannot corrode pearlescent pigments.

2. Heat resistance. Pearlescent pigments cannot burn or self-ignite, and even at temperatures of 800 degrees Celsius, there is no change.

3. Excellent light resistance; they do not fade or change color when exposed to sunlight.

4. Non-toxic, proven to be non-toxic by government authorities.

• Applications

1. Textiles

Combining pearlescent pigments with textiles can give fabrics an excellent pearlescent sheen and color. Adding pearlescent pigments to printing pastes and printing on textiles, followed by post-treatment, can make the fabric produce a strong pearlescent sheen from multiple angles under sunlight or other light sources.

2. Coatings

Coatings are widely used, whether in automotive finishes, automotive parts, building materials, or household appliances, coatings are used for color decoration while achieving certain protective effects.

3. Inks

The use of pearlescent inks in high-end packaging printing is becoming increasingly widespread, such as in cigarette packs, high-end wine labels, and anti-counterfeiting printing.

4. Ceramics

Applying pearlescent pigments in ceramics can give ceramics unique optical properties.

5. Plastics

Mica titanium pearlescent pigments are suitable for almost all thermoplastic and thermosetting plastics, without causing discoloration or graying of plastic products, and can produce bright metallic luster and pearlescent effects.

6. Cosmetics

The variety, performance, and color diversity of cosmetics depend on the diversity of the pigments used. Pearlescent pigments are widely used as cosmetic pigments due to their strong hiding power or high transparency, good hue, and wide color spectrum.

7. Others

Pearlescent pigments are also widely used in other production and daily life, such as imitating the appearance of ancient bronze and applications in artificial stone.