Using Technical Expertise to Meet Regulatory Challenges

(CINCINNATI, OH, September 9, 2020) When concerns were raised about specific forms of nickel in standard Cobalt Titanate, CI Pigment 50 (PG50) in the European Union (EU), The Shepherd Color Company deployed their sizeable expertise in technical, analytical, and regulatory areas to find not one, but two high-performance pigment solutions.

The first route of retaining nickel in the formula, but ensuring that the nickel wasn't present in the form of concern, yielded Green 10G655. This is a standard PG50 specially formulated and produced to meet EU labelling requirements, while maintaining a bright, chromatic green shade that PG50s are known for, and is more chromatic than other inorganic green pigments, such as chrome oxide (PG17).

A second pathway was to remove nickel from the pigment formulation altogether. Other pigment companies tried this route, but to get the color close, had to add chromium to the formula. While in a safe Cr3+ state, many industries like powder coatings use PG50s because they do not contain any form of chromium in their formula. After an exhaustive search, Shepherd Color developed a bright chromatic green without nickel or chromium and launched it as Green 10G603. This product has a bright and chromatic masstone, excellent tint-strength and best of all, it is still classified as a PG50, so it has the same regulatory and chemical inventory approvals and listings.

Shepherd Color's Green 10G603 and Green 10G655 represent the cutting edge in new pigment development. A pigment used to be judged mainly by its coloristic properties. Today, regulatory pressures dictate that old pigment chemistries meet new requirements or find their use curtailed or even eliminated. Very often, the new alternatives are of lower performance and higher cost, or both, but often with limited options.

Shepherd Color not only addresses regulatory concerns that can come from around the world, but give their customers multiple options depending on what is most important to them and the environment.

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ABOUT THE SHEPHERD COLOR COMPANY

Founded in 1981, The Shepherd Color Company produces a wide range of high-performance Complex Inorganic Color Pigments (CICPs) used in a variety of industries. These pigments are an extraordinary class of inorganic pigments that offer stable, long-lasting color for many applications. They have unbeatable weatherability, heat and chemical resistance, are non-warping and easy to disperse. More Expertise. Better Performance. Best Value. That's Shepherd Color.