Pearlescent pigment, we also call it as Pearl pigment, mica pigment or mica powder.

From artificial leather, wallpaper, plastic packaging film, cosmetics, shampoo packaging, home appliance plastic parts, to artificial pearls, plastic buttons and other plastic products, pearlescent pigments are widely used to increase attractiveness through enhance pearl effect on the surface of plastics.

Pearlescent pigments can be applied to almost all thermoplastics and some thermosetting plastics. The concentration of pearlescent pigments used in plastics depends on different application conditions. However, it is generally 1-2% (by weight of the resin), which can already achieve a satisfactory pearlescent effect. For some film products, a pearlescent pigment concentration as high as 4-8% must be used. In addition, some plastics with a lower transparent base also require higher amounts of pearlescent pigments or larger particles to achieve special effects.

In general, Pearlescent pigments can be applied to most of plastics, like Extrusion, cast film, blow molding, injection molding.

Today, in this blog, we will firtly introduce somethings about Extrusion.

Pearlescent pigment for Extrusion

Extrusion is mainly used to produce continuous profiles. Such as plastic pipes, rods, wire and cable coatings and plastic profiles, etc. Many pearlescent packaging tubes for facial cleanser, hand cream, and hair spray. It is processed by this method. Hollow blow molding is currently the most widely used and most important field of pearlescent pigments. Extrusion technology is used more and more widely in the manufacture of multilayer composite plastics. Pearlescent pigments are generally limited to the outer decorative layer of the composite film when used for extrusion. The thickness of the colored layer of the pearlescent pigment during extrusion is thinner than that of ordinary extrusion, and the amount of pearlescent pigment should be increased accordingly, generally 8-10%. The actual amount is determined by the thickness of the outer film. The thinner the amount added Just higher. Its processing process adopts general processing operating conditions, and the pigment flakes are oriented during extrusion and flow. This orientation is not affected by surface defects, die and processing equipment. Careful adjustment and various process parameters can obtain a more ideal pearlescent effect. During extrusion, the pearlescent pigment and resin can be directly mixed and put into the extrusion. To produce and extrude the hose, pearlescent masterbatch can also be used and mixed into the resin raw material in the required proportion to produce.