The effect of crystal properties on the manufacture and application performance of copper phthalocyanine pigments

Copper phthalocyanines are commercially important organic pigments for blue shades of colour. They are dispersed by mechanical means as tiny molecular crystals (of dimensions 0.02-0.5 mu m) into a wide range of commercial med ia to form products such as printing inks, paints and coloured plastics. Ma ny important technological properties of copper phthalocyanine pigments, in cluding colour strength and dispersion performance, depend on the physical properties of their crystals, notably crystal lattice type, crystal size an d crystal shape. The roles which these crystal properties play in determini ng a copper phthalocyanine pigment's technological performance are briefly reviewed. The reduction of crystal aggregation during the manufacture of a copper phthalocyanine pigment and the control of flocculation in an applica tion medium are also highlighted. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd .