Color has a profound impact on our lives, arousing emotions, conveying information, and enhancing beauty. Organic pigments are at the forefront of this colorful world, providing vibrant hues that define our surroundings.
Organic pigments are compounds mainly composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and occasionally sulfur. Unlike inorganic pigments, inorganic pigments are usually minerals, while organic pigments are synthetic chemicals produced through complex chemical processes. Their molecular structure is designed to absorb and reflect specific wavelengths of light, resulting in various colors.
The series of charming colors it produces stems from the arrangement of atoms in its molecules. The key factors affecting color include:
Conjugate system: Organic pigments have conjugated double bonds, where alternating single and double bonds form delocalized electron systems. This electronic motion absorbs light from the visible spectrum, producing color.
Chromosome: A specific atomic group in a pigment molecule, called a chromophore, responsible for absorbing light. These groups are conjugated and contain unsaturated bonds.
Color enhancer: A color enhancer is a functional group that changes the color of a pigment by altering its absorption spectrum. Common auxochromes include hydroxyl, amino, and carboxyl groups.
Application scope
Widely used due to its versatility, stability, and vibrant coloring:
Paint and Coatings: Organic pigments are the lifeblood of the paint and coatings industry, bringing vibrant colors to everything from homes to cars.
Plastic: Plastic manufacturers use organic pigments in products such as toys, packaging, and automotive components to achieve the desired color and UV resistance.
Printing ink: Organic pigments are indispensable inks for printing newspapers, magazines, packaging materials, etc.
Textiles: In the textile industry, these pigments are used to dye fabrics and create a wide range of clothing and household textiles.
Food and cosmetics: Organic pigments play a crucial role in the food and cosmetics industry, providing color for food, cosmetics, and personal care products.
Digital display: Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) use organic pigments to create bright colors in the display, making it thinner, lighter, and more flexible.
Art and Design: Artists and designers appreciate a wide range of organic pigments, providing infinite possibilities for creative expression.
With the increasingly prominent sustainability, organic pigments are also constantly developing. Many manufacturers are currently developing environmentally friendly pigments with minimal impact on the environment, making them more attractive for applications that require sustainable practices.
Although organic pigments offer incredible color possibilities, they face challenges related to stability and fading over time, especially when exposed to sunlight. Researchers are actively working to improve the durability of organic pigments and expand their applications to outdoor use and building materials.
With an experience in chemical raw material industry for 11 years, Hangzhou Hengyi Technology Co.,ltd, was started in 2017 and focused on discovering chemical business opportunities out of China and bring them to our local partners. The main industries we involve in are paint, plastics, ink, personal care and agro industry.
