MICA PIGMENTS IN SOLVENT-FREE COATINGS SYSTEMS

Mica pigments are nowadays extensively used in different solvent conta ining paint systems, e.g. in automotive paints. Although water-borne c oatings are gaining more and more importance, the need for even more e nvironmentally safe to use coatings calls for coatings with less or ev en no solvents. To achieve this goal-no solvents-basically two technol ogies are used: one is powder coating, the other is radiation curing l ike UV- and electron beam-curable systems. Together with the need for more environmentally safe paint systems the consumer also requests hig hly esthetic coatings, especially concerning colour and effect. This p aper describes how mica pigments, which are themselves environmentally safe and are used for high esthetic requirements, work in solvent fre e paint systems like powder coating and radiation-curable systems. Spe cial attention is given to how mica pigments can be incorporated into powder coatings and what measures have to be taken to achieve an optim ised effect. Concerning radiation, especially UV-curable systems, the advantages of mica pigments compared to other effect pigments are disc ussed.