Manfred Kieser

Mica pigments in solvent free coatings systems

Abstract Mica pigments are nowadays extensively used in different solvent containing paint systems, e.g. in automotive paints. Although water-borne coatings are gaining more and more importance, the need for even more environmentally safe to use coatings calls for coatings with less or even no solvents. To achieve this goal—no solvents—basically two technologies are used: one is powder coating, the other is radiation curing like UV- and electron beam-curable systems. Together with the need for more environmentally safe paint systems the consumer also requests highly esthetic coatings, especially concerning colour and effect. This paper describes how mica pigments, which are themselves environmentally safe and are used for high esthetic requirements, work in solvent free paint systems like powder coating and radiation-curable systems. Special attention is given to how mica pigments can be incorporated into powder coatings and what measures have to be taken to achieve an optimised effect. Concerning radiation, especially UV-curable systems, the advantages of mica pigments compared to other effect pigments are discussed.