Colourant Solutions, the FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) blog. Here you will find a number of key questions asked about colourant solutions.
If you have a question that isn't answered here, please contact us.
What is a Pigment?
A pigment is an insoluble particle that imparts colour due to both its specific chemical structure and crystal shape.
What is a Pigment Dispersions?
The full-colour strength of pigment particles is achieved by grinding the coarse raw pigment in a dispersing agent which coats the particles and stabilises them in a liquid suspension. This ‘pigment dispersion’ is the vehicle that transports the pigment particles into a medium, such as a paint or a fabric printing paste.
How do you make a pigment dispersion?
Christine Wilson, General Manager at TTC Ltd gives a brief 5-minute insight into the process behind making a pigment dispersion with Stuart Douglas (Commercial Manager).
Christine is Responsible for all operations; production, technical, regulatory compliance, health & safety. She has more than 25 years of experience, her speciality is dye and the manufacture of pigment dispersions.
Find out more about our team here!
What is the difference between Pigment Dispersion and a Dye?
Pigment dispersion is a liquid containing solid particles, which are non-substantive, meaning they must be fixed in place by means of a ‘glue’ such as the binder component in paint formulations. Dyes chemically react at the molecular level to colour specific materials, so tend to be less versatile than pigments.
How do different pigments vary from each other?
Two different pigments may only share the common features of having a colour-generating portion in the molecule, and of existing as insoluble particles. Otherwise, the chemical structures may have little in common, giving rise to a diversity of fastness properties and hence applications.
Where is pigment used?
Pigment, both in a raw coloured powder as well as dispersions are used in a variety of industries across the globe. These end applications can be hugely diverse however TTC Ltd has segmented these markets by our product ranges. We have developed a core product designed specifically for the end application our colour is going into.
The core markets for pigment dispersions & our associated speciality ranges are: