Application areas and development resistance of pearlescent pigments

The rapidly developing pearlescent pigments have been used more and more widely in the packaging, printing and publishing industries, from cosmetics, cigarette cases, alcohol, gift packaging, to business cards, greeting cards, calendars, book covers, to pictorial printing, textiles. Prints, pearlescent paints are everywhere. In particular, the market demand for pearlescent film for food packaging is increasing day by day. For example, in the fields of ice cream, soft drinks, biscuits, candy, napkin packaging, etc., the pearl film is used to give consumers a pleasing feeling.

   Although the demand for pearlescent pigments in various fields is very large, in terms of marketing, pearlescent pigments still encounter certain resistance.

  First, the production processes of several types of pearlescent pigments (mica titanium series pearlescent pigments) currently on the market are very complicated, and the process precision and equipment requirements are high, which makes the manufacturing cost high, which limits the wide application of such pigments. For example, many paint and paint manufacturers and ink manufacturers have been very interested in this kind of pigment, but in actual application, it is discouraged due to its high price. Therefore, reducing production costs and achieving large-scale production is a crucial step in expanding the market.

  According to the relevant data analysis, the percentage concentration (mass) of the mica titanium pearlescent pigment in the printing of different printing methods is also large, and the content in the screen printing is the lowest. The content of the screen printing ink is 8% to 15%; the content of the gravure printing ink is 15% to 25%; the content of the flexographic printing ink is 15% to 25%; and the content of the offset printing ink is 30%. Therefore, the use of screen printing will reduce production costs.

  All in all, mica titanium pearlescent pigments are a new concept of optical color-changing pigments. They have a broad space for development. They will continue to reduce production costs as they go deeper, and will open up a broader road for the widespread use of mica titanium pearlescent pigments in the near future. To give users more choices in product selection and use.

  Second, the application research of pearlescent pigments is still in a very weak link. The current research and development of pearlescent pigments in coatings, plastics, printing inks, artificial leather, building materials, cosmetics, paper, packaging materials, textile printing and dyeing, etc. It has just started, because most people still know very little about the characteristics of this new decorative pigment, coupled with the lag of application technology, low technical level and poor decorative effect, which restricts the application and promotion of pearlescent pigments. It has lost many excellent competitive opportunities by making many products that can be decorated with this kind of pigment to enhance the added value of the product. But for the pursuit of pearlescent pigments, people have never stopped, because people clearly understand the truth: a breakthrough in application technology will often promote the upgrading of an industry product, which will bring immeasurable economic benefits to an industry.

  Third, the pearlescent pigment production process seems to be simple, but the actual production technology is complex, involving many disciplines. Therefore, all countries in the world have strictly kept the technology secret and blocked. In order to keep trade secrets, many companies have never announced their annual sales performance. Compared with some industrially developed countries, the research, production and application of China's mica titanium pearlescent pigments are still at the initial stage of development. No matter the product quality, variety and application technology, they are at a low level. Many key technical problems have not yet been achieved. Breakthroughs have made the products of German and Japanese pigment companies still dominate the world.