Effects of morphology and surface treatment of inorganic pigments on waterborne coating properties

Inorganic pigments in aqueous coatings are investigated using atomic force microscopy and microprobe analysers. The first method characterises the top ography at a very high resolution. The findings obtained using the second m ethod reveal the distribution of the pigment in the paint film. Taking sele cted titanium dioxide and iron oxide pigments, the effects of particle morp hology as well as inorganic and organic surface treatment on the dispersibi lity and flocculation stability are shown. These two phenomena are factors in gloss, hazing, hiding power, tinting strength and viscosity - key qualit y parameters in waterborne coatings. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rig hts reserved.