Pearlescent Pigments in Plastic:
Pearlescent pigments can be used in nearly all thermoplastics and most processes.Their effects are most intense in transparent resins like PS, PP, PE, PVC, acrylic,styrene-block copolymers, and silicone. It is also possible to attain pearlescence and luster in polymers having little or no transparency as with nylon, ABS & HIPS, but only with higher pigment loadings. Pearlescent pigments combined with dark absorption pigments in opaque polymers can yield a strong reflection color and produce pearl effects of great richness and depth. Highly filled plastics are not good candidates for pearlescent pigments because opaque fillers scatter light, eliminating the pearlescent effect. Most users limit fillers to less than 1% in systems containing pearl pigments. Pearlescent pigments can be used in many thermosetting plastics, including unsaturated polyester, crylic, urethane, andepoxy as well as cast polyester cultured marble and onyx components for countertops, floors, furniture, and fireplace elements. Pearlescent pigments can also be added to cast acrylic sheet and alloyed or blended materials such as rubber-toughened polycarbonate, nylon/ABS, and PC/ABS.

Compounding Pearlescent Pigments In Plastics:
Pearlescent pigments can be master batched containing 25% pearlescent pigments (up to 50%) in most resins by drum tumbling or mixing in twinshell, ribbon, or highspeed blenders. Pearlescent pigments are never ground or subjected to extended cycles or heavy shear because these can shear off the metal oxidecladding and damage the platelets. Banburytype or continuous mixers are most often used to create pearlescent masterbatches, although tworoll mills, calenders, vertical intensive mixers, and double planetary mixers are also suitable as long as you avoid excessive shear. Pearlescent pigments are usually incorporated in powdered polymers such as PVC and PE by simple blending. Blending usually begins with organic pigments, followed by inorganic pigments, and lastly the pearlescent pigments.

Color: Fine silver white