Perlite and Effect Pigment Blends for Multi-Angle Sparkle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pearl pigments based on metal-coated or oxide-coated mica show high sparkling intensity at 15° illumination angles but exhibit lower values at higher angles, making it difficult to achieve consistent sparkling effects across different viewing angles without using expensive materials.
Innovation Solution
The use of blends comprising platelet-like perlite and effect pigments, such as those coated with dielectric materials or metal layers, allows for adjustable and improved sparkling behavior, including higher sparkle intensity at all angles, by optimizing the composition and particle size distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional pearl pigments based on metal-coated or oxide-coated mica are used, then high sparkling intensity is achieved at 15° illumination angles, but sparkling intensity decreases at higher viewing angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines platelet-like perlite with effect pigments (such as metal oxide coated glass flakes or metal oxide coated alumina flakes) to create a composite pigment composition. This composite structure allows the perlite component to reflect light at higher angles while the effect pigment component provides sparkle at lower angles, achieving consistent sparkling effects across all viewing angles without requiring expensive single-material solutions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different materials with specific optical properties to different functional requirements: perlite provides high-angle light reflection for broad viewing coverage, while metal oxide coated flakes provide intense sparkle at low angles. By assigning specific materials to specific angular ranges, the composition achieves uniform sparkle intensity across all viewing angles
2Adaptability or versatility
If expensive materials are used to achieve consistent sparkling effects across different viewing angles, then uniform sparkle is achieved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite of perlite (a cost-effective material with high light reflection capability at high angles) and effect pigments (which provide sparkle at low angles) to achieve consistent multi-angle sparkle. This composite approach replaces expensive single-material solutions with a more economical combination of materials that together deliver the same optical performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the particle size distribution and composition ratios of the composite pigment to achieve consistent sparkle across viewing angles. By carefully controlling parameters such as the size range of perlite platelets (0.5-100 μm) and the proportion of effect pigments, the formulation achieves uniform optical performance at lower overall cost
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The pigment compositions provide enhanced sparkling effects with adjustable sparkle intensity and area, maintaining high performance across various illumination angles, thereby offering a cost-effective solution for achieving desired sparkling appearances in applications like paints, inks, and cosmetics.
Implementation Method 1
Sparkling effects on an object can be defined as locations where compared to the adjacent area in directed light a light of higher intensity is observed. They are caused by light reflecting pigments incorporated into a coating on the surface of the object
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to pigment compositions with improved and adjustable sparkling effect comprising A) a platelet-like perlite; and B) an effect pigment; and a process for their production and their use in paints, ink-jet printing, for dyeing textiles, for pigmenting coatings (paints), printing inks, plastics, cosmetics, glazes for ceramics and glass. The pigment compositions show an improved sparkle effect; in particular an attractive high sparkle intensity.