- 31 August 2007 -
Special effect pigment adds a touch of sparkle

Shepherd Color Company has developed the StarLight® pigment line using MicroMirror® technology, which is said to provide outstanding brilliance and sparkle in a variety of applications.

StarLight Fl 105 pigment has approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as a colorant in all types of food-contact polymers, making it suitable for items such as plastic tumblers, dinnerware and packaging for food and cosmetics. The grade is the medium particle size in the Shepherd Color range and can be used at levels up to 0.3% by weight in any application.

The pigments are compatible with most polymers, blends and alloys and can be processed at high temperatures. It is claimed that as a result of their unique properties, flow lines are either eliminated or, at worse, minimised during the moulding operations of complex parts.

The MicroMirror technology is produced through the use of a well-defined glass base, uniformly coated with metallic silver. The glass base provides the StarLight products with an optimum surface for maximum reflectivity, according to the company. The pigment edges are coated, making the effect visible at any orientation. The sparkle can be created at pigment levels as low as 500 parts per million and can even be achieved with opaque pigments.

Shepherd Color Company; www.shepherdcolor.com