In the coating and ink formulation field, oil absorption is a key indicator of pigments, referring to the grams of linseed oil (or specified oil) required to fully wet 100 grams of pigment powder into a uniform paste. Many engineers are troubled by pigments with high oil absorption: to maintain the same pigment volume concentration (PVC) and application viscosity, it is necessary to increase the dosage of expensive resins and solvents, which directly pushes up formula costs and may also lead to problems such as brittle paint films and slow drying.
In response to this pain point, the industry has formed multiple solutions. The most direct way is to select alternative models with similar colors and performance but lower oil absorption—differences in surface treatment processes among manufacturers can result in varying oil absorption levels. Pigment manufacturers can adopt advanced surface treatment technologies to coat pigment particles with appropriate additives, reducing oil absorption and improving dispersibility. On the formulation side, wetting and dispersing agents can be added to reduce resin consumption, grinding processes can be optimized to improve pigment packing, or compounding with low-oil-absorption, low-cost fillers such as barium sulfate and calcium carbonate can lower the average oil absorption of the entire pigment system.
Experts remind that oil absorption is only a reference indicator, and comprehensive evaluation should be conducted in combination with tinting strength. Enterprises like Tusu have controlled oil absorption within a reasonable range while ensuring pigment color and durability by optimizing synthesis and post-treatment processes. Maintaining technical communication with suppliers is an effective way to balance cost and performance.
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