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A brief review of new pigment products
FOCUS ON P I G M E N T S A MONTHLY REPORT FROM REG ADAMS
APRIL 2012
A BRIEF REVIEW OF NEW PIGMENT PRODUCTS
In this issue
MARKETS
2-5
TiO2 prices raised to cover costs despite buyers’ resistance World carbon black supply & demand rose by 6% last year
PLANTS
5-6
BASF to cease making PbCrO4 pigments in Germany Omya poised to open GCC plant in Indonesia Orion expands South Korean carbon black plant Lifocolor to make more masterbatch in Poland Gestora Catalana opens second Spanish masterbatch plant
COMPANIES
6
Nordmann Rassmann to sell Hubron’s black masterbatch Schulman buys British Vita’s French masterbatch business
LEGISLATION
6-7
EU bans chrome yellow & moly orange, with end-2014 sunset
LITIGATION
7
Chinese State-owned company indicted for espionage re TiO2
EVENTS
PIGMENTS
AN INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER MONITORING TECHNICAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PIGMENTS SECTOR ISSN 0969–6210
8
PIGMENTS
During the past year or so, a number of new pigment products have been featured in press releases, brochures and industry publications. Many of them have also been displayed at various trade shows around the world, the most important of which are regularly listed on the back page of ‘Focus on Pigments.’ In this editorial, we shall review some of the more interesting product launches. In a climate of rapidly rising TiO2 prices, the search for suitable extenders and potential substitutes gathers momentum. Arkema (of Colombes, France) recently launched Celocor, a voided opaque polymer latex product that offers hiding power and functions as a partial TiO2 replacement in both interior and exterior paints, ranging from flat to semi-gloss finishes. It contains no alkyl phenol ethoxylate (APE), is odour-free and is compatible with low-VOC paint formulations. Arkema claims that Celocor offers a more balanced approach to performance attributes such as tint strength, gloss development, burnish resistance and scrub resistance than rival opacifiers. Dow Chemical (of Midland, MI, US) inherited the Ropaque product line as part of its $15 bn acquisition of Rohm & Haas in March 2009. Ropaque pigments are essentially uniformsized hollow spheres or beads, the shells of which are made from a styrene-acrylic copolymer. They impart opacity via air voids encapsulated in the hard shell of the bead and, unlike the air voids created in a paint film by the use of pigment extenders, they are not associated
PIGMENTS
PIGMENTS
with increased porosity and structural weakness of the paint film. Ropaque pigments were first launched on the market in 1979 and they are now manufactured at 17 different Dow sites around the world. Last year, Dow relaunched an improved version of Ropaque, claiming that it could replace up to 20% of the TiO2 in a satin or semi-gloss acrylic paint formulation and up to 35% of the TiO2 in a high-quality flat acrylic paint formulation. At the same time as the Ropaque relaunch, Dow introduced Evoque pre-composite polymer technology, the objective of which is to improve the dispersion of TiO2 pigment particles and reduce the risk of crowding and agglomeration. Using Evoque in architectural paints can facilitate savings of 10-20% of the amount of TiO2 required. Sibelco Europe Minerals Plus (formerly known as Ankerpoort, based in Maastricht, Netherlands) recently launched Portafill as a new type of TiO2 extender. This is essentially a mixture of high-purity hydrated calcium and magnesium carbonates with an ultrafine platelet structure. As well as maintaining hiding efficiency and whiteness, Portafill can function as a rheology additive, altering the deformation and flow of media to which it is added. It represents an alternative to long-established TiO2 extenders, such as ground and precipitated calcium carbonates, calcined kaolin, talc, silica, etc. Tor Minerals International (which originated as Benelite Corp of America in 1973) has long supplied buff and grey Hitox titanium pigments,
PIGMENTS
PIGMENTS
FOCUS which are essentially fine-milled forms of synrutile manufactured by the Benelite process at a captively owned plant in Malaysia. These pigments provide reasonably good opacity for non-white paints. Last year, Tor Minerals (still headquartered at Corpus Christi, TX, US) launched Tioprem-250 pigments, representing an improvement on the original Hitox products by virtue of better thermal stability. Using Tioprem-250 pigments can offer cost savings through partial replacement of both conventional TiO2 pigments and coloured pigments. PQ Corp (of Valley Forge, PA, US) recently widened its range of Zeocros aluminosilicates, which function as TiO2 extenders, offering weight-forweight savings on TiO2 of up to 25%, together with the advantages of low oil adsorption and hydrophilicity to facilitate dispersion. In the world of coloured pigments, Shepherd Color (of Cincinnati, OH, US) boldly announced earlier this year the “first cobalt blue of the 21st Century.” The product – Blue 10C595 – is a cobalt aluminate blue spinel (CI Pigment Blue 28), with a relatively low surface area and low resin demand, resulting in higher gloss. This pigment is said to be ideal for applications that require low heat buildup and/or exceptional durability. Shepherd Color also recently added to its range of Arctic infrared-reflecting pigments two new rutile-tin-zinc orange pigments, namely Orange 10P320 and Orange 10C321, both of which offer high solar reflectivity. Towards the end of last year, Sun Chemical (also based in Cincinnati) launched Palomar Alpha Blue 60, a reddish-blue highperformance pigment suitable for waterand solvent-based automotive and industrial paints. It features good viscosity, dispersibility and lightfastness. Cappelle Pigments (headquartered at Menen, Belgium) originally built its reputation as a supplier of chrome yellow pigments, but it ceased producing these pigments in 2010 after more than 75 years. Meanwhile, the company established a good platform for its future development with the production of bismuth vanadates and transparent iron oxides. Cappelle also supplies high-performance organic pigments and it expanded its portfolio towards the end of last year with the launch of two new pigments – Lysopac Red 2230C and Lysopac
2
ON
PIGMENTS
Red 7730C. Lysopac Red 2230C is a clean shade of magenta (CI Pigment Red 122), based on quinacridone. Lysopac Red 7730C is a transparent blue-shade red pigment (CI Pigment Red 177), based on anthraquinone. Both pigments offer good light- and weather-fastness. Protec Systempasten (of Herdecke, Germany) recently added two new groups of organic red pigments to its DecoTint Premium W series of water-based tinting pastes for house paints, creating brilliant red tints beyond the full-shade range. Pigments of the perylene class achieve levels of lightand weather-fastness even in crimson tints. The quinacridone class generates red tints covering the whole spectrum from flame red to bluetinged purple. The new Protec products are: DecoTint Premium W Scarlet 257 RY (CI Pigment Red 168), DecoTint Premium W Dark Red 277 RB (CI Pigment Red 179) and DecoTint Premium W Red 297 RB (CI Pigment Violet 19). In the world of inorganic pigments, Heubach (headquartered at Langelsheim, Germany) last year added to its range of bismuth vanadate pigments with the launch of Vanadur 1030, a non-encapsulated grade that offers a slightly redder shade than Vanadur 1010. Both products offer excellent opacity, good tinting strength, high gloss and outstanding weatherand light-fastness. Nubiola (of Barcelona, Spain) last year launched the heat-resistant yellow iron oxide Nubifer Y-7050, mainly intended for use in plastics and heat-sensitive coatings. BASF Pigments (now headquartered in Hong Kong) last year introduced several new pigments intended for use in automotive paints. Paliocrom Brilliant Gold allows the creation of eye-catching effects thanks to its high chroma and lightness. Paliocrom Brilliant Lumina Royal Blue is a red-shade blue interference pigment with improved colour strength, brightness, brilliance and chroma. Heliogen Blue L-6600 is a Pigment Blue 15:6 copper phthalocyanine blue pigment. As a member of the ‘neutral flop’ blue series, this pigment permits styling trends with limited colour change when viewed from various angles. Several companies launched new infrared-reflecting pigments last year. Eckart (of Hartenstein, Germany)
launched the IReflex pigment, which is added as powder or concentrate to transparent interior building paint and then applied to the building walls and ceilings with brush or roller. Using this pigment affects the walls and ceilings so that they barely absorb heat (including body heat) but instead they reflect it back into the room. This infrared-reflecting property remains active even in tinted paints. A study carried out in collaboration with Bauhaus University (of Weimar) showed an energy saving potential in the region of 16-22% when using this pigment. The energy saving is dependent on the wall construction of each building: the worse the insulation the higher the expected energy saving. Heubach extended its range of infrared-reflecting pigments with the introduction of Heucodur IR 945, bridging the gap between its existing Heucodur 940 and Heucodur 950 products. Also last year, PPG Coatings Deutschland (based in Bochum) launched the new exterior coating Sigma Siloxan Ultra-Cool, which prevents the facades of buildings from heating up excessively. The paint contains specially developed pigment pastes, which prevent the ready-mixed façade paint from turning the infrared sunlight into heat. Reg Adams
MARKETS TiO2 prices raised to cover costs despite buyers’ resistance According to data published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average price paid by US customers for TiO2 pigment increased by 75% from $1.07 per pound in January 2009 to $1.87 per pound in January 2012. This rapid escalation over the past three years contrasts against the relatively gentle oscillation in prices within the range $1.00-1.20 per pound over most of the previous 14 years. Some observers have likened the recent escalation in prices to the scenario that played out during the late 1980s, but in truth it is much worse – from the customer’s point of view – this time round. The average price paid in the US rose by just under
APRIL 2012
APRIL 2012
A BRIEF REVIEW OF NEW PIGMENT PRODUCTS
In this issue
MARKETS
2-5
TiO2 prices raised to cover costs despite buyers’ resistance World carbon black supply & demand rose by 6% last year
PLANTS
5-6
BASF to cease making PbCrO4 pigments in Germany Omya poised to open GCC plant in Indonesia Orion expands South Korean carbon black plant Lifocolor to make more masterbatch in Poland Gestora Catalana opens second Spanish masterbatch plant
COMPANIES
6
Nordmann Rassmann to sell Hubron’s black masterbatch Schulman buys British Vita’s French masterbatch business
LEGISLATION
6-7
EU bans chrome yellow & moly orange, with end-2014 sunset
LITIGATION
7
Chinese State-owned company indicted for espionage re TiO2
EVENTS
PIGMENTS
AN INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER MONITORING TECHNICAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PIGMENTS SECTOR ISSN 0969–6210
8
PIGMENTS
During the past year or so, a number of new pigment products have been featured in press releases, brochures and industry publications. Many of them have also been displayed at various trade shows around the world, the most important of which are regularly listed on the back page of ‘Focus on Pigments.’ In this editorial, we shall review some of the more interesting product launches. In a climate of rapidly rising TiO2 prices, the search for suitable extenders and potential substitutes gathers momentum. Arkema (of Colombes, France) recently launched Celocor, a voided opaque polymer latex product that offers hiding power and functions as a partial TiO2 replacement in both interior and exterior paints, ranging from flat to semi-gloss finishes. It contains no alkyl phenol ethoxylate (APE), is odour-free and is compatible with low-VOC paint formulations. Arkema claims that Celocor offers a more balanced approach to performance attributes such as tint strength, gloss development, burnish resistance and scrub resistance than rival opacifiers. Dow Chemical (of Midland, MI, US) inherited the Ropaque product line as part of its $15 bn acquisition of Rohm & Haas in March 2009. Ropaque pigments are essentially uniformsized hollow spheres or beads, the shells of which are made from a styrene-acrylic copolymer. They impart opacity via air voids encapsulated in the hard shell of the bead and, unlike the air voids created in a paint film by the use of pigment extenders, they are not associated
PIGMENTS
PIGMENTS
with increased porosity and structural weakness of the paint film. Ropaque pigments were first launched on the market in 1979 and they are now manufactured at 17 different Dow sites around the world. Last year, Dow relaunched an improved version of Ropaque, claiming that it could replace up to 20% of the TiO2 in a satin or semi-gloss acrylic paint formulation and up to 35% of the TiO2 in a high-quality flat acrylic paint formulation. At the same time as the Ropaque relaunch, Dow introduced Evoque pre-composite polymer technology, the objective of which is to improve the dispersion of TiO2 pigment particles and reduce the risk of crowding and agglomeration. Using Evoque in architectural paints can facilitate savings of 10-20% of the amount of TiO2 required. Sibelco Europe Minerals Plus (formerly known as Ankerpoort, based in Maastricht, Netherlands) recently launched Portafill as a new type of TiO2 extender. This is essentially a mixture of high-purity hydrated calcium and magnesium carbonates with an ultrafine platelet structure. As well as maintaining hiding efficiency and whiteness, Portafill can function as a rheology additive, altering the deformation and flow of media to which it is added. It represents an alternative to long-established TiO2 extenders, such as ground and precipitated calcium carbonates, calcined kaolin, talc, silica, etc. Tor Minerals International (which originated as Benelite Corp of America in 1973) has long supplied buff and grey Hitox titanium pigments,
PIGMENTS
PIGMENTS
FOCUS which are essentially fine-milled forms of synrutile manufactured by the Benelite process at a captively owned plant in Malaysia. These pigments provide reasonably good opacity for non-white paints. Last year, Tor Minerals (still headquartered at Corpus Christi, TX, US) launched Tioprem-250 pigments, representing an improvement on the original Hitox products by virtue of better thermal stability. Using Tioprem-250 pigments can offer cost savings through partial replacement of both conventional TiO2 pigments and coloured pigments. PQ Corp (of Valley Forge, PA, US) recently widened its range of Zeocros aluminosilicates, which function as TiO2 extenders, offering weight-forweight savings on TiO2 of up to 25%, together with the advantages of low oil adsorption and hydrophilicity to facilitate dispersion. In the world of coloured pigments, Shepherd Color (of Cincinnati, OH, US) boldly announced earlier this year the “first cobalt blue of the 21st Century.” The product – Blue 10C595 – is a cobalt aluminate blue spinel (CI Pigment Blue 28), with a relatively low surface area and low resin demand, resulting in higher gloss. This pigment is said to be ideal for applications that require low heat buildup and/or exceptional durability. Shepherd Color also recently added to its range of Arctic infrared-reflecting pigments two new rutile-tin-zinc orange pigments, namely Orange 10P320 and Orange 10C321, both of which offer high solar reflectivity. Towards the end of last year, Sun Chemical (also based in Cincinnati) launched Palomar Alpha Blue 60, a reddish-blue highperformance pigment suitable for waterand solvent-based automotive and industrial paints. It features good viscosity, dispersibility and lightfastness. Cappelle Pigments (headquartered at Menen, Belgium) originally built its reputation as a supplier of chrome yellow pigments, but it ceased producing these pigments in 2010 after more than 75 years. Meanwhile, the company established a good platform for its future development with the production of bismuth vanadates and transparent iron oxides. Cappelle also supplies high-performance organic pigments and it expanded its portfolio towards the end of last year with the launch of two new pigments – Lysopac Red 2230C and Lysopac
2
ON
PIGMENTS
Red 7730C. Lysopac Red 2230C is a clean shade of magenta (CI Pigment Red 122), based on quinacridone. Lysopac Red 7730C is a transparent blue-shade red pigment (CI Pigment Red 177), based on anthraquinone. Both pigments offer good light- and weather-fastness. Protec Systempasten (of Herdecke, Germany) recently added two new groups of organic red pigments to its DecoTint Premium W series of water-based tinting pastes for house paints, creating brilliant red tints beyond the full-shade range. Pigments of the perylene class achieve levels of lightand weather-fastness even in crimson tints. The quinacridone class generates red tints covering the whole spectrum from flame red to bluetinged purple. The new Protec products are: DecoTint Premium W Scarlet 257 RY (CI Pigment Red 168), DecoTint Premium W Dark Red 277 RB (CI Pigment Red 179) and DecoTint Premium W Red 297 RB (CI Pigment Violet 19). In the world of inorganic pigments, Heubach (headquartered at Langelsheim, Germany) last year added to its range of bismuth vanadate pigments with the launch of Vanadur 1030, a non-encapsulated grade that offers a slightly redder shade than Vanadur 1010. Both products offer excellent opacity, good tinting strength, high gloss and outstanding weatherand light-fastness. Nubiola (of Barcelona, Spain) last year launched the heat-resistant yellow iron oxide Nubifer Y-7050, mainly intended for use in plastics and heat-sensitive coatings. BASF Pigments (now headquartered in Hong Kong) last year introduced several new pigments intended for use in automotive paints. Paliocrom Brilliant Gold allows the creation of eye-catching effects thanks to its high chroma and lightness. Paliocrom Brilliant Lumina Royal Blue is a red-shade blue interference pigment with improved colour strength, brightness, brilliance and chroma. Heliogen Blue L-6600 is a Pigment Blue 15:6 copper phthalocyanine blue pigment. As a member of the ‘neutral flop’ blue series, this pigment permits styling trends with limited colour change when viewed from various angles. Several companies launched new infrared-reflecting pigments last year. Eckart (of Hartenstein, Germany)
launched the IReflex pigment, which is added as powder or concentrate to transparent interior building paint and then applied to the building walls and ceilings with brush or roller. Using this pigment affects the walls and ceilings so that they barely absorb heat (including body heat) but instead they reflect it back into the room. This infrared-reflecting property remains active even in tinted paints. A study carried out in collaboration with Bauhaus University (of Weimar) showed an energy saving potential in the region of 16-22% when using this pigment. The energy saving is dependent on the wall construction of each building: the worse the insulation the higher the expected energy saving. Heubach extended its range of infrared-reflecting pigments with the introduction of Heucodur IR 945, bridging the gap between its existing Heucodur 940 and Heucodur 950 products. Also last year, PPG Coatings Deutschland (based in Bochum) launched the new exterior coating Sigma Siloxan Ultra-Cool, which prevents the facades of buildings from heating up excessively. The paint contains specially developed pigment pastes, which prevent the ready-mixed façade paint from turning the infrared sunlight into heat. Reg Adams
MARKETS TiO2 prices raised to cover costs despite buyers’ resistance According to data published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average price paid by US customers for TiO2 pigment increased by 75% from $1.07 per pound in January 2009 to $1.87 per pound in January 2012. This rapid escalation over the past three years contrasts against the relatively gentle oscillation in prices within the range $1.00-1.20 per pound over most of the previous 14 years. Some observers have likened the recent escalation in prices to the scenario that played out during the late 1980s, but in truth it is much worse – from the customer’s point of view – this time round. The average price paid in the US rose by just under
APRIL 2012