PIGMENTS | SPECIAL EFFECTS
Right: Eckart’s NIR Silver is detectable by near-infrared sorting in recycling operations
needed, particularly in cosmetic and food packag- ing, household appliances, and toys. Eckart’s Edelstein highly chromatic effect series is designed for use in applications such as household appliances and consumer electronics. Edelstein Sapphire Blue, which shows a deep, highly chro- matic blue colour from any viewing angle, is an addition to the series that includes Edelstein Ruby Red, Topaz Orange, and Sunstone Champagne. Eckart’s latest pigment for laser marking, Lasersafe 020, is especially suited for bright marking on dark backgrounds. It is effective at low pigment concentrations in the final product and is suitable for a wide range of polymers or for liquid masterbatches. It is compliant for food contact applications. The new product for dark substrates complements the already established Lasersafe 040 for bright substrates. In February 2024, Eckart parent Altana acquired US-based special effect pigment manufacturer Silberline Group. Wenzlik said that the acquisition allows the group to react to market demands and meet customer needs.
Added sparkle Shepherd Color has added to its StarLight line of silver coated glass flake pigments that uses the company’s MicroMirror technology, which provides brilliant sparkle and shine. The flatness of the glass flake substrate maximises reflection, and the metallic silver coating is passivated to prevent tarnishing when exposed to water or weathering. The pig- ments are also very robust and survive high-intensity extrusion processing, the company reports. The company’s proprietary manufacturing
Below: StarLight
FL170 contains silver coated glass flake pigment
process yields durable, high-temperature and long- term light reflectivity, it says. The latest product, StarLight FL170, has a particle size that comple- ments other Shepherd Color products, such as the sparkling undertone of FL37 and the dazzling speckle effect of FL500. The company says that FL170 can be used to emphasise contours or combined with colour pigments to create eye-
IMAGE: SHEPHERD COLOR
catching effects. In a clear application, the degree of sparkle can be scaled by changing the loading. The loading range varies, but in injection moulded parts it is typically between 0.2 and 0.75 wt.%. Significantly higher loadings have been used in a few pieces, which moves the effect from a subtle sparkling effect to dazzling. Avient’s ColorForward 2026, which is the 20th edition of the annual forecasting tool, predicts an ongoing importance of special effects. “Lighter, harmonious shades and more complex neutrals partner with vibrant colours to embody cautious optimism and brightness in a complex world. Special effects continue to provide depth and dynamism to a palette that is generally less saturated than the previous edition,” said Roberto Romanin, Designer at ColorWorks EMEA, Avient. Of the 20 featured colour aesthetics in the forecast, special effects are included in 13. “The extensive use of special effects in the 2026 edition of ColorForward reflects the overarching theme of redefining ourselves through the explora- tion of new and unfamiliar ideas to address global challenges, including revisiting old concepts,” said Romanin. He explained that effects featured in the forecast include pearls and iridescent effects, from thin and thick pearlescent to cool and warm interferential; metallics (gold, silver, aluminium); marble and even glitter. “Digital Bone is an example of one of the five colour aesthetics in the ColorFoward 2026 Bio-funk trend story, that invites us to dive into technologies like brain organoids and quantum computers, which could help meet the growing data process- ing needs of our digitalised world,” he said. “Developed to symbolise the digital-organic connection at the heart of bio-computing, it
26 COMPOUNDING WORLD | March 2025
www.compoundingworld.com
IMAGE: ECKART
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