32 Effect pigments

Abstract

Metal effect pigments and special effect pigments are the two classes of effect pigments. Effect pigments, also termed luster pigments, consist of μm-sized thin platelets that show strong lustrous effects when oriented in parallel alignment in application systems, such as coatings, plastics, printing inks, and cosmetic formulations. Metal effect pigments show a metal-like luster after parallel orientation in the application medium, which has its origin in reflection of light at the surface of the platelet-like metal particles. Special effect pigments, on the other hand, consist of transparent flakes with a high refractive index. Oriented in a parallel way, most of them show a characteristic pearl luster generated by multiple reflections. Many of the special effect pigments are classified as interference pigments because their color generating mechanism is based completely or predominantly on the phenomenon of interference.