Pre-wetting of pearlescent powder: Before mixing the pigment with paint ink, we should wet the pigment first. The solvent used for wetting should be compatible with the ink system. Good wetting can evenly disperse the pigment into the ink, which is the foundation of high-quality pearlescent printing effect. Wetting can also overcome the “dusting” phenomenon of dry powder during dispersion.
Dispersion of pigment in paint ink: Pearlescent pigment has good dispersibility, making it sufficient to stir it slowly in low-viscosity ink. Equipment like three-roller machine, high-speed mixer, or ball/bead mill should be avoided to prevent loss of luster due to pigment breakage. It’s better to add the pigment in the final stage of ink production. With dispersion machine or high-speed mixer, the mixing time of each batch should be constant and minimized.
Choose ink medium with good transparency: Whether it is ink pigment or binding material, the level of transparency is an important factor affecting the pearlescence of paint ink.
Pigment distribution characteristics decide the effect: More pearlescent pigment distributed more evenly in the printed coating will lead to better pearlescent effect. But another point is also important: The most ideal pearlescent effect can be achieved only when the pigment chip is parallel to the surface of printed material.
