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E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +86-572-8356001
Holographic pigments deliver dramatically different visual effects depending on their formulation type and the substrate they're applied to. Transparent holographic pigments achieve optimal brilliance on dark or black substrates, high-brilliance variants perform best on white or reflective bases, while solid holographic pigments maintain consistent effects across varied backgrounds but sacrifice some dimensional depth. The substrate's color, texture, and reflectivity directly determine the final optical performance, with mismatches between pigment type and base material resulting in up to 70% loss in holographic intensity.
The particle size of holographic pigments typically ranges from 5 to 150 microns, with finer particles (10-25 microns) providing smoother finishes suitable for cosmetics and coatings, while larger particles (80-150 microns) create more dramatic rainbow effects in plastics and industrial applications. Substrate porosity, surface energy, and binder compatibility create critical constraints that manufacturers must address during formulation.
Transparent holographic pigments function as light transmitters rather than reflectors, requiring dark or black substrates to showcase their spectral diffraction properties. When applied over white substrates, these pigments typically show 40-60% reduced color shift intensity compared to black bases, as the underlying brightness dilutes the rainbow effect. Glass, black acrylic, and dark-colored plastics provide ideal foundations, with smooth, non-porous surfaces yielding the most vibrant results.
Loading concentrations for transparent pigments typically range from 3-8% by weight in coating formulations, with higher concentrations on porous substrates to compensate for absorption losses.
High-brilliance holographic pigments incorporate aluminum or synthetic mica flakes beneath the holographic layer, creating intense light reflection that amplifies color shifting. These formulations achieve maximum visual impact on white or metallic substrates, where the reflective base multiplies the light returning through the diffractive surface. Testing data shows that high-brilliance pigments on white substrates produce 2.3 to 3.1 times greater luminosity compared to transparent variants under identical lighting conditions.
The metallic components in high-brilliance pigments have higher density (2.7-4.5 g/cm³) than transparent variants, requiring substrates with surface energies above 38 dynes/cm for proper wetting and adhesion. Polypropylene and polyethylene plastics, with surface energies of 29-33 dynes/cm, must undergo corona or flame treatment to reach 40-45 dynes/cm before coating application.
| Substrate Material | Surface Energy (dynes/cm) | Pretreatment Required | Brilliance Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| White PET | 43-45 | None | Excellent |
| Coated Paper | 40-50 | None | Very Good |
| Polypropylene | 29-31 | Corona Treatment | Good |
| Aluminum Sheet | 22-28 | Chemical Etch + Primer | Fair to Good |
| Glass | 250-500 | Cleaning Only | Excellent |
Solid holographic pigments combine opaque pigment bases with holographic flakes, enabling consistent color appearance regardless of substrate color. This formulation achieves substrate independence at the cost of reduced holographic depth, with diffraction effects appearing as surface sparkle rather than deep rainbow shifts. The opaque layer blocks light transmission, limiting the pigment to surface reflection modes.
Solid formulations excel in applications requiring color matching across diverse materials. Automotive refinishing, where panels may include steel, aluminum, and plastic composites, benefits from solid holographic pigments that maintain visual consistency despite substrate variations. Testing across five automotive manufacturers showed color deviation values (ΔE) below 1.5 when solid holographic coatings were applied to mixed-material assemblies, compared to ΔE values of 4.2-6.8 for transparent variants.
The opaque pigment base in solid formulations requires higher loading rates (12-20% by weight) compared to transparent types, increasing coating thickness requirements. Optimal film builds range from 25-40 microns for adequate coverage, which presents challenges on flexible substrates like textiles and thin films where excessive coating weight causes stiffness or cracking. UV-cured systems partially address this by enabling thinner application layers (18-28 microns) while maintaining hiding power.
Substrate surface roughness (Ra value) directly impacts holographic clarity, with smooth surfaces (Ra < 0.5 microns) producing sharper diffraction patterns than textured substrates (Ra > 2.0 microns). Injection-molded plastics with high-polish molds achieve Ra values of 0.1-0.3 microns, ideal for maximizing holographic effects, while cast concrete or unfinished wood (Ra 5-15 microns) scatter light and reduce color separation by 55-75%.
Polyester-based holographic pigments withstand processing temperatures up to 200°C, making them compatible with powder coating and high-temperature thermoforming. Substrates requiring higher processing temperatures, such as polycarbonate (molding at 280-320°C) or ceramics (firing at 800-1200°C), necessitate specialized aluminum oxide or glass-based holographic materials that maintain diffractive properties above 400°C but cost 3-5 times more than standa
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