Formulation and analysis of acrylic emulsion coatings with chrome yellow, phthalocyanine blue, and red oxide pigments using high speed disperser and bead mill techniques

A major commercial problem is achieving stable and fine particle pigment dispersion, especially for aqueous pigment dispersions. It is essential to optimize dispersants in order to moisten, disperse, and stabilize pigments throughout the milling process. This study focuses on formulating acrylic emulsion coatings using chrome yellow, phthalocyanine blue, and red oxide pigment concentrates. The formulations were developed using both high-speed dispersers (HSD) and bead mills. A quality evaluation of the products from the two milling techniques was carried out. Formulations made with chrome yellow, phthalocyanine blue, and red oxide pigment concentrates in a water-based, binder-free system using bead mills, Tween-80, SLS, and cocosulphosuccinate surfactants showed narrower particle size distributions and stronger color than those made with HSD. Specifically, formulations prepared with bead mills and the aforementioned surfactants demonstrated superior color strength compared to those prepared with HSD. The color shade of acrylic emulsion coatings formulated with phthalocyanine blue and red oxide pigment concentrates, along with Tween-80 and cocosulphosuccinate surfactants using HSD, matched the standard color shade formulations prepared in bead mills. However, formulations using phthalocyanine blue pigment concentrates with SLS and oleylsulphosuccinate surfactants in HSD did not match the standard color shade prepared in bead mills.