coatings - Merck Performance Materials

Transcription

Merck Pigments
effekte
02
2015
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EDITORIAL
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On this page: Colorstream® F10-51 Lava Red, Iriodin® 7225 Ultra Blue, Biflair® 66 A
Dear Readers,
S
ince the printing of our last edition
of Effekte, we have been delighted
by the enthusiastic feedback on our
revolutionary, patented RGB printing technology. In fact, customers and printing pioneers were so impressed with the technique
that it has been nominated for the Druck
and Medien Awards 2015. It also featured
as an Innovation Showcase at the Luxury
Packaging 2015 show in London. These successes inspired us to display it for all to see
on the cover of this magazine.
That said, the RGB printing process is not
the only inventive development highlighted in this issue of Effekte. This edition is full of avant-garde advancements
including new pigments like Meoxal®
Atacama Red (p. 12), Xirallic® NXT Tigris
Blue (p. 22) and Miraval® Cosmic (p. 26)
– products that are simply destined to add
stunning colors and textures to a wide variety of applications.
You might be wondering how a pigment
can add texture to a surface. The answer
is simple: Iriotec®. Plastics and powdercoated surfaces prepared with pigments
from the 8000 series can now be transformed with fine structures and conductive circuits thanks to superior metallization. Page 18 reveals how it works.
Always looking for ways to support our
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customers, we continually develop the
right tools for difficult jobs – whether it’s
for enhancing achromatic car coatings
(p. 10), using gold highlights to augment
the appearance of standard hues (p. 16), or
revolutionizing pharmaceuticals packaging
with RGB and 3D print effects (p. 8).
If you’re interested in how these products
are tested and perfected, simply put on your
lab coats and flip to page 42 for a guided
tour of our TAN facilities. We’re giving our
readers exclusive insights into the work
carried out at these technical centers, uncovering some of the unique technologies
used at these sites.
Of course we also have plenty of exciting
success stories to share, from wallpaper to
decorative household items and accessories
– all neatly wrapped up in this very issue,
just in time for the holidays.
I hope you enjoy the magic of this latest edition of Effekte, just as you enjoy the magic
of the season that is upon us. And I offer my
sincere wishes to all of our readers for happy
holidays and all the best for a rewarding
New Year.
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Heckmeier
Head of Pigments & Functional Materials
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COATINGS
10 | Achromatic acrobatics
12 | Meoxal® Rugged. Intensive. Radiant
16 | Worth its weight in gold
22 | Xirallic® Inspired by nature, innovated by Merck
24 | Suprima® A brand revisited
30 | Automotive Color Inspiration beyond the horizon
36 | On the face of it
42 | A day in the coatings TAN center
PRINT
6 | Coming of age for RGB
8 | Be bold, not boring
26 | Miraval® Cosmic inspiration
40 | Whiter than white?
41 | Marburg, Marburg, on the wall
50 | Touch of luxury
PLASTIC
14 | Products making the rounds
26 | Miraval® Cosmic inspiration
40 | Whiter then white?
46 | Seeing is believing
FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
18 | Iriotec® A lighter side to adding form to function
21 | Iriotec® Untouched, but clearly marked
28 | Surfaces with superpower
34 | Excellence for elegance
48 | Next step: success
Effect pigments and inserts in this edition: Iriodin® 7217 Ultra Copper, Iriodin® 305 Solar Gold,
Iriodin® 325 Solar Gold Satin, Iriodin® 6107 Icy White Lightning, Iriodin® 7225 Ultra Blue,
Miraval® 5430 Cosmic Gold, Miraval® 5450 Cosmic Bronze, Miraval® 5411 Magic White,
Miraval® 5320 Scenic Gold, Miraval® 5424 Magic Blue, Pyrisma® T30-23 Blue,
Pyrisma® T30-24 Green, Colorstream® F10-51 Lava Red, Biflair® 66 A
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INDEX
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MERCK KGaA
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On this page: Pyrisma® T30-23 Blue, Iriodin® 72 7 Ultra
er, Biflair® 66 A
On this page: Pyrisma®
A Brand with standing
N O B U S I N E S S CA N S U RV I V E I N T H E LO N G T E R M W I T H O U T
A S T R O N G B R A N D , W H E T H E R I T S E L L S C A N D Y, C A R S O R H I G H - T E C H
C H E M I C A L S – I N C O N S U M E R M A R K E T S O R B2B. I T H A S B E E N 14 Y E A R S
S I N C E M E RC K LA S T R E-E X A M I N E D I T S B R A N D I N G – A V E RY LO N G T I M E
I N TO DAY ’S F A S T W O R L D O F G LO B A L B U S I N E S S.
1668 - 1918
1919 - 1933
For generations, Merck has faced a di cult decision: Should things stay
as they are, or has the time come to move forward and signal that you’ve
changed, that you’re stronger, that you’re more modern?
In the 1870s, our predecessors wrote that, “Memory will be assisted
by a successful symbol which must be concise, clear, and easy to remember
as well as have a pleasant aesthetic form.”
It’s interesting how di erent generations have toyed with the Merck name
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1934 - 1945
by itself or the inclusion of graphical elements (including a coat of arms)
or color (which is always a challenge).
There have also been personal touches such as the signature of Dr. Emanuel
August Merck after building a new factory. Packaging needs also gained
in importance, with symbolic marks or stamps to go on labels. And then
international needs entered the scene, even with Chinese characters and
modi cations for foreign subsidiaries. Perhaps the most striking move
4
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C
ompanies need an unmistakable identity, especially with B2B customers, who
may be in different industries but look
for similar things in suppliers. Multiple reports
and rankings indicate that our brand has been
slipping since 2001 – through acquisitions,
organizational transformation, and global
expansion. If customers and partners are confused, if the brand architecture has become
complex, if thinking and operations across the
company have become compartmentalized,
you have no choice: something must be done.
Now more than ever, Merck is far more than
a mere name or logo – and certainly more
than a chemical and pharmaceutical company.
1946 - 1964
2 Blue, Biflair® 66 A
To market ourselves effectively as a key player
and a driver of technical innovation, to operate beyond our individual fields of e pertise
in healthcare, life science, or performance
materials, to act in unison and prove we are
more than the sum of all parts, we must pull
together.
Also in visual terms, our style must unify us
and differentiate us from the competition. Our
image must stand out.
Of course a powerful brand is not just about
logos and colors, it’s also about people, emotional values, and attitudes. As many firms now
know, if you raise your profile, show you’re
a leader, and prove that you really are different,
1965 - 2000
MERCK KGaA
2016
which must communicate in an instant that we’re more than the sum of all
parts and that we combine competences to make a meaningful di erence.
Obviously we have name di erences for legal reasons, but the goal stays
the same: We have to ensure we are clearly di erentiated and instantly
recognizable as one company. As our predecessors also worked out, this
means using visual cues and colors to be memorable, and to show unity
across the corporation as a sign of our uni ed strength.
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you safeguard your own future by recruiting
more talent and winning over key influencers.
There has been so much transformation
in recent years, but whenever you reach
a watershed, it’s the perfect time to consider
new options and make moves that matter.
There are many examples in this magazine of
the amazing things we are capable of. Everyone at Merck knows this, but now it’s time
to signal it clearly to others. Change is never
easy, but as a new and unified business, and
with support from every angle – also for those
who have felt a loss of identity over the last 14
years – we are now in an ideal position to seize
new opportunity.
2001 - 2015
was the most simple, when the Merck name stood by itself in the 1930s
in response to moves made by competitors.
The challenges are similar in modern times, but the focus is clearer.
Since the 1960s, the experts have gone for simplicity, unity throughout
the di erent countries and industries, subtly heralding messages relating
to the core brand.
All of these thoughts had been central to the development of our new logo,
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PRINT
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On this page: Iriodin® 7225 Ultra Blue
On this page: Pyrisma® T30-24 Green
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PRINT
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4 SKILLFUL STEPS
1. Separation:
The le is separated in CM and a negative image is created to derive the additive
colors red, blue, and green.
2. Creating the print:
Selecting the canvas is the most important part. ou have to allow for maximum
saturation with the rough pigments but
still keep the raster delicate enough.
Coming of age for RGB
3. Print colors:
The pigments are mixed in a conventional
silkscreen ink. The higher the concentration, the better (max. 20 ). This has a
positive e ect on light re ection.
4. Silkscreen print:
ou have to slow down the printing process on account of the relatively large
pigments. This helps with the positioning
of individual pigments and this is important for the glossy nish.
I T ’ S N O T O F T E N A N E W, P A T E N T- P E N D I N G T E C H N O L O G Y C O M E S A L O N G T H A T ’ S
I M M E D I A T E LY H A I L E D A S P I O N E E R I N G . S O A S T H E A W A R D N O M I N A T I O N S C O N T I N U E
TO RO L L I N, W E TA K E A C LO S E R LO O K AT T H I S I N N OVAT I V E P R I N T I N G T E C H N O LO G Y
A N D I T S U N R I V A L L E D R E S U LT S .
R
GB printing technology is turning heads and creating levels of
excitement usually associated with
pioneering space missions or even Hollywood
award ceremonies. For Merck, it has also resulted in high-profile nominations for printing
industry awards. Small wonder: As we mentioned in the last edition of EFFEKTE, the color
ranges offered by RGB technology are taking
us into new realms of printing possibility – all
thanks to a concept based on Pyrisma® pearl
effect pigments.
Let’s leave behind the areas normally
associated with RGB, such as digital applications like TV screens or displays where red,
green, and blue are placed on a black background, typically resulting in a white appearance. Instead, let’s travel forward in time to
the new RGB printing technology which was
recently developed and now makes it possible
to create a very different impression by accurately printing red, green, and blue pigments to
overlap on a black substrate (e.g., card).
Theoretically, this allows designers and printing
specialists to create more colors and more saturations than with CMYK techniques. The resulting look and feel is astonishing and fascinating
in one – even with the available pearl effect
pigments.
This approach to additive color mixing on a black surface delivers colors with
a slight metallic look, somewhat reminiscent
of a space-age effect with an added glimmer of
sophistication. At Merck, we are confident that
this new technology will be a hit, and it certainly looks like the industry experts agree with us.
The sheer variety of colors we can produce
and the impact of such a saturated effect have
resulted in two nominations that could be just
the tip of the iceberg over the coming months
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and years.
The first high-profile nomination came from
the biggest award gala of the German printing
industry, the Druck & Medien Awards 2015.
Merck was nominated for the Hewlett-Packard
Award as “The Most Innovative Company of the
Year.”
The second important recognition of this
ground-breaking printing concept was at
Luxury Packaging in London in September.
Two posters produced with RGB printing shot
straight into the Packaging Innovation Showcase at this huge industry event, capturing the
interest of many key international players.
It’s only a matter of time before this new
technology is picked up by more developers,
so if you’re interested in leading from the
front and spearheading the revolution, contact Merck soon for more information and
samples.
OTICE A T I
DIFFE E T about the front cover of this EFFE TE magazine? It was produced using
technology with the kind support of Atelier f r Siebdruck in Switzerland and as part of a creative partnership
with the artist and printer, orenz oegli. If you’re interested in using this technology for your own prints or
product packaging, don’t hesitate to contact your Merck representative for more information. We can support
you in selecting pigments and provide usage instructions.
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On this page: Iriodin® 6107 Icy White Lightning
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On this page: Miraval® 5424 Magic Blue, Iriodin® 6107 Icy White Lightning
Be bold, not boring
PRINT
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Blister refined with
Virtual Embossing 3D (VE3D)
P H A R M A C E U T I C A L S A N D E V E N O V E R -T H E - C O U N T E R ( O T C )
PRODUCTS ARE SERIOUS BUSINESS. CONSUMERS EXPECT THEM TO BE
S A F E A N D E F F E CT I V E. S O W H Y N OT S U P PO RT CO N S U M E R CO N F I D E N C E
B Y S H O W I N G C U S TO M E R S – W I T H T H E PAC K I T S E L F – W H AT T H E Y
C A N E X P E C T I N S I D E T H E P A C K A G I N G : H I G H LY S O P H I S T I C A T E D
I N N O V A T I O N S A N D T E C H N O L O G Y.
I
n today’s self-aware society, modern consumers want
products formulated to get them looking and feeling
healthy. Studies have shown that – much like cosmetics
– nutraceuticals and even pharmaceuticals perform far better
on the market when they’re packaged just right. Merck proudly
presents all-new innovations in brand design, so manufacturers don’t have to play it safe when it comes to their packaging.
Since most people will pay more for products that look trustworthy, why not up the stakes by wrapping things up in packs
that deliver top results at the point of sale? After all, 64% of
customers try new products based on the packaging alone.
that they would buy a product again just because of the packaging, there’s every reason to ensure your products look great
from any angle.
FORM AND FUNCTION
Prescription and non-prescription substances have to be
packaged to meet certain criteria. The packaging should
be functional, hygienic, and above all safe. A pack that’s
practical and easy to use will go a long way, especially
considering that 36% of consumers have reportedly switched
products because of problems with packaging.
So does this mean sacrificing form for function Not at all.
Appearances are everything, and with Merck, you can make
sure that what’s on the outside matches the quality that’s on
the inside. In fact, if done right, all-inclusive brand design
covers both the pack and the product. Tablets and capsules
formulated with Candurin® to match your branding or current
marketing campaign not only boost product appeal, but their
distinctiveness can even help reduce the likelihood of dosage mix-ups. Naturally, Merck’s Candurin® pearl effect colors
are absolutely safe for use in foods and pharmaceuticals, and
the unique range of colors makes illegal manufacturing that
much harder.
A PRESCRIPTION FOR PERFECTION
The majority of products available in drugstores and pharmacies look dry and functional. Conservative colors, dull design,
plain packs. So Merck set out to develop new premium packaging concepts, resulting in end-to-end design options where
everything fits together – from the product to the blister pack
and even the outer box.
There are several ways to create perfect packaging. A particular favorite that’s already making waves with brand owners
is our Virtual Embossing 3D (VE3D) effect. As the name suggests, pigments are specifically positioned to give a threedimensional edge to any design – an effect that is clearly visible, but definitely untouchable. This novel concept can now
even be applied to silver-lined blister packs.
Another technique involves making innovative tweaks to RGB
hues. The result: an ultimate color pallet range that surpasses
CM prints, opening the floodgates to uni ue styles that set
products apart and leave the competition wondering where
they went wrong. More and more brand owners are enhancing their packaging to attract customers to the contents: high
quality, inside and out. And with 41% of consumers stating
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MAKING THE MOST OF IT
With the right application, your packaging can go from interesting to innovative. Merck has just the know-how you need to
take your marketing to the next level. Let us help you achieve
great effects with very little effort. The secret lies in how: Our
proven and patented effects are hard to beat and even harder
to copy, making it all the more difficult for imitations and
counterfeits to find a footing. So you can enjoy protected
branding and your customers can enjoy peace of mind.
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nd Table
uri ts
n® coa
pe ted
arl
eff with
ect
co
lor
s
PRINT
Ca
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Packaging refined with
Virtual Embossing 3D (VE3D)
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COATINGS
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t i
a e Biflair® 66 A
t i
Achromatic
acrobatics
AC H RO M AT I C CO LO R S A R E E V E RY W H E R E T H E S E DAY S – T H E Y E V E N
A C C O U N T F O R 75% O F A L L C A R S H A D E S. S O H O W D O YO U D I F F E R E N T I AT E
YO U R P RO D U C T S I N T H I S C O LO R S E C TO R A N D O P E N E Y E S TO P LAY F U L
V A R I A T I O N S O N A C C E P T E D S H A D E S O F B L A C K , G R A Y, A N D W H I T E ?
E
ven in an industry driven by complex decisionmaking, carefully invested household budgets,
and car buyers who spend hours thinking about
just the right color for their next set of wheels, modern
customers can often be tempted to explore. Deep down,
many want to return to those curious days of childhood
and open their mind to effects and playful hues that go
deeper than the initial color you see on the hood – even if
they say they still want a car that’s not colorful.
Nowadays there are plenty of new styling possibilities
available to car manufacturers to address customer needs.
Effect pigments in the achromatic band offer a whole
host of ways to splash around with sparkle, add depth,
needs a cold, gray blue, should have a flop that’s bright or
dark, should shine with a neutral luster, or 3C white needs
variation – the creative possibilities are endless.
Our achromatic tool encompasses a fan deck of 21 colors.
And although it was designed with interior and exterior
automotive design in mind, the effects are also amazing
for plastic coatings.
COVERING THE ACHROMATIC RAINBOW
The first set of colors in the fan covers variations of
white, starting with a reference white using Xirallic®
Crystal Silver before shifting to a warmer white and then
a cool variation.
To show different ways to play with solid gray, a gray
color is adapted by introducing a selection of effect pigments ranging from light to dark and even an added
subtle shade of color and texture.
In the examples of bright to dark gray, we’ve taken
a basic formulation and stretched it into lighter and
darker options. This shows the amazing ways you can
play with the appearance of the effect pigments.
You can also have fun playing with our mass tone and
interference yellow and golden highlights. To show
and inject new highlights and down flop into achromatic
hues.
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ARMED WITH THE RIGHT TOOL
To show what’s possible, we have developed a color tool
featuring 21 stylings that reflect the achromatic palette,
from pure white and different shades of gray to deep
black.
The aim is to demonstrate the amazing variety now on
offer. For example: colors can seem solid in the shade
and become vivid in the sunlight, contrast can vary by
playing with sparkle and color depth, and metallic colors
can be either subtle or strong. Whether a car (or coating)
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what’s possible, we added different golden highlights
to a base formulation, bringing out the best effects with
Xirallic® Sunbeam Gold, Xirallic® Leonis Gold, and
Meoxal® Taklamakan Gold.
The next set of colors should allow you and your colleagues to get a feel for cold and warm grays. We show
how to modify dark gray stylings by adding gray mass tone
effect pigments.
Finally we’re back to black, showing how designers can
explore the well-known black stylings with Xirallic®
Crystal Silver by shifting color hue, down flop and sparkle
intensity.
This particularly useful color deck contains 2- and 3-coat
stylings using pigments from our Xirallic®, Pyrisma®,
Iriodin®, and Meoxal® lines.
Overall, it can certainly open your mind to the possibilities of modern effect pigments. Also, for anyone working
in brand development and car design, it’s another useful
instrument in the quest to appeal to customers who look
beyond the basic color or hue. Because of their immense
popularity, achromatics will stay on the agenda for many
years to come. So look out for Part 2 of this mini-series on
special achromatic stylings in 2016!
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COATINGS
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IRIODIN® ICY WHITE LIGHTNING
Icy perfection with a gleam that’s as
white as snow, Iriodin® Icy White Lightning
radiates a purity and brilliance that’s
cool and refreshing. Ideal for indoor and
outdoor applications, its synthetic mica
substrate gives this pigment the bluishwhite appearance that sets it apart from
other similar products. Iriodin® Icy White
Lightning is an important part of the
achromatic spectrum and o ers unmatched
highlights for eye-catching styles.
XIRALLIC® PANTHERA SILVER
Ferocious sparkle and sleek elegance are
expertly captured in a single powerful
e ect pigment: irallic
T Panthera
Silver. Thanks to its exceptional brilliance
and op behavior, this pigment is an essential addition to any designer’s color palette.
With its bluish metallic appearance it’s
a superb complement to black and silvergray stylings. Always darker than Xirallic®
Crystal Silver, it opens up new avenues
of styling options.
XIRALLIC® CRYSTAL SILVER
A highly re ective pigment with amazing
living sparkle, Xirallic® Crystal Silver is easy
to use and easy on the eyes. The platelets
o er a narrow particle size distribution
(5-30 m) and a very smooth surface. With
a high degree of transparency and no mass
tone color, Crystal Silver provides an attractive sparkle e ect that’s great for achieving
a touch of glamor in any styling. Fantastic
resistance to weathering also makes it
perfect for indoor and outdoor applications.
75% percent of all cars sport achromatic colors.
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a e Biflair® 66 A
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COATINGS
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t i
a e Biflair® 66 A
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Rugged. Intensive. Radiant.
S I L E N C E P E R M E AT E S E V E RY T H I N G. A S E V E N I N G S E T S I N, T H E S U N
D I S A P P E A R S B E H I N D C RAG G Y P E A K S O F S A N D A N D RO C K. AT F I R S T
T H E S C O R C H E D E A R T H I S C A S T I N A G E N T L E , W A R M G L O W. T H E N ,
I N T H E L A S T B R E A T H S O F D A Y L I G H T, T H I S B A R R E N L A N D S C A P E S E E M S
T O C A T C H F I R E . W E L C O M E T O T H E A T A C A M A D E S E R T. W E L C O M E
T O M E O X A L® A T A C A M A R E D .
W
ithout a doubt, red is a classic hue. Popular
for colorful designs in a variety of industries and applications, red is adored for its
energetic warmth. Designers looking to turn up the
heat on their artistic stylings can now turn to Meoxal®
Atacama Red. It infuses designs with a luminous quality
that brings to mind images of sun-soaked landscapes of
ruddy sands.
Inspired by the red beauty of Chile’s Atacama Desert,
this is the third pigment to come out of the Meoxal®
series. Customers don’t just love it for its color brilliance
and outstanding technical properties, but also because
it’s so easy to use. Developed through a combination
of old and new processes, it features one-of-a-kind
properties.
Specially developed for use in automotive coatings, it’s
an aluminum-based pigment with a tight particle size
distribution. A metal oxide layer, which is used to cover
the substrate, gives this rich, warm color added purity.
Something truly unique about this pigment is the passivation interlayer between the aluminum flake substrate and
its metal oxide topcoat. This layer acts as a protective
sheath, which means customers don’t have to factor in
a e Biflair® 66 A
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COATINGS
a separate passivation step in their application scenarios. The passivation layer is unique to Merck; no
other pigment producer offers products treated with this
patented layering process.
In a final step, the pigment’s flakes undergo a new carbitol and weather surface treatment (CWT), so Atacama
Red is incredibly stable in outdoor applications. CWT
makes it easy to mix the pigment into most paint systems, especially waterborne paints – though it is also
well-suited to solvent-borne systems. The pigment is
supplied as a paste for safe handling. Taken together,
these unique characteristics offer a brilliant appearance
and ideal performance.
Atacama Red is one of Merck’s latest Meoxal® innovations, and it is the result of continuous research. It offers
extreme color intensity, even at low concentrations, and
is ideal for highly chromatic red stylings or as a complement to chromatic orange and brown tones. The product
is hard-wearing and durable so it stays good-looking in
any kind of weather. It’s optimal for high-end exterior applications like automotive and plastic coatings. Contact
Merck today to find out how Meo al® Atacama Red can
work its magic for you.
Schematic composition of Meoxal® Atacama Red
Metal oxide Fe2O3
Passivation interlayer
Aluminum ake
THOSE WHO THINK they might only see Meoxal® Atacama Red take
to the streets are in for a surprise. Sure, it looks good in automotive
coatings and won’t lose its luster in any kind of weather, but it’s
also perfect for other areas where high-grade materials need that
extra special touch. Remember the G-Shock watch featured in the
previous edition of E ekte? ere, too, this pigment can make its
mark. Whether it’s on your arm or on the road, Meoxal® Atacama
Red is sure to turn heads.
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PLASTICS
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On this page: Miraval® 5411 Magic White, Iriodin® 325 Solar Gold Satin
Products making the rounds
Rotomolding
(also called rotational
molding) is a great,
low-cast way to produce
durable and corrosion-resistant parts
On this page: Miraval® 5411 Magic White, Iriodin® 325 Solar Gold Satin
A S W E S A W I N T H E LA S T I S S U E O F E F F E KT E, ROTO M O L D I N G I S
A H I G H -T E C H M E T H O D F O R P R O D U C I N G U N I Q U E P L A S T I C P R O D U C T S –
A P RO C E S S W I L L I G O E B E L K U N S T S TO F F K N O W S A L L TO O W E L L. T H AT’S
W H Y M E RC K PA RT N E R E D U P W I T H T H E S P E C I A L I S T B A S E D I N B R I LO N.
E
ffekte: Willi Goebel Kunststoff is
run through the normal production process.
a specialist in rotomolding (RM).
Using RMPs in different types of LLDPE brings
What’s so interesting about this prothe same results in terms of processability and
duction technique?
appearance.
Kemal Koc: I’d say it’s the wide variety of
The sorts of items where these RMPs will really
items you can produce with this process. It’s
come in handy are things like planters, gardenextremely varied and serves a huge number of
ing items, and lamps – so anything you use for
Kemal Koc
markets.
decorative purposes. But they’re also practically
Production manager
RM is a low-cost production process that alpredestined for use in sporting goods and chilWilli Goebel
lows for many different types of items of
dren toys since they allow you to create all-new
Kunststoff
all shapes and sizes. Even inserts like metal
effects and designs.
threads or pipe sockets can easily be included
Effekte: Are there any other effect pigment
in the molding process. And the costs are really much lower
preparations that might be interesting for RM?
than for injection or blow molding. RM is particularly ideal
Kemal Koc: Until now, we haven’t been able to create a copper
for smaller batches of up to 3,000 parts. All you need is the
appearance, so that would be good for us. There are probably
right molding tool.
other color effects in Merck’s pigment range that would be
Effekte: What special features can you create with rotomoldinteresting to look at. I could imagine a golden glitter pigment
ing? And how do pigment preparations compare to using pure
would be a great way to ‘spruce up’ certain parts – someeffect pigments?
thing like Iriodin® 6163 RMP as a kind of color-neutral glitter
Kemal Koc: RM doesn’t involve processing pressure, so it
pigment.
gives you parts that are virtually stress-free and seamless.
Effekte: How much emphasis does Willi Goebel Kunststoff
This is particularly useful with parts placed under high meplace on innovation? Is it important in the rotomolding inchanical loads.
dustry?
It also allows you to make the same parts with different mateKemal Koc: Innovation is unbelievably important to us!
rial thicknesses, so you can meet various customer requireThe new effects we can create now will allow us to enter new
ments.
markets with new applications.
We weren’t getting the right results with pure effect pigments
Especially in areas like furniture and architecture, there are rebecause most of the pigment was deposited on the inside of
quests for more extravagant shapes and colors, so now we can
the part. Creating surfaces with a metallic appearance also
start looking at these. We’re also toying with ideas such as rewasn’t an option. Merck’s rotomolding preparations (RMPs)
alistic imitations of natural materials like stone or wood effects.
changed all that.
Effekte: And what value do Merck’s effect pigment preparaEffekte: Considering the effects you achieved with the new
tions add in this area?
RMPs, are there any products or areas where they could be
Kemal Koc: We’re hoping that the metallic and pearlescent
particularly useful?
effects we can create now will provide us with new ways to
Kemal Koc: Using Merck’s RMPs creates better effects that are
differentiate ourselves and grow the business.
more visible on the outside of the part, so parts are finally
The touch of refinement they add also let us make more
more appealing.
high-value products or turn existing products into higher
Dosing in the RMP as a dry blend without having to change
value ‘special editions’. In terms of adding value, this is
processing parameters was a pleasure – we could let the parts
certainly an appealing aspect.
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PLASTICS
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COATINGS
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On this page: Iriodin® 249 Flash Gold, Miraval® 5320 Scenic Gold
On this page: Iriodin® 249 Flash Gold
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COATINGS
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Worth its weight in gold
M I D A S A N D M Y T H O L O G Y, T H E A R T S A N D A R C H I T E C T U R E , M U S I C A N D M O V I E S –
A N D N O T F O R G E T T I N G J E W E L R Y. W H A T W O U L D T H E W O R L D B E W I T H O U T G O L D ?
W H AT W O U L D S O M E S U R F AC E S B E W I T H O U T G O L D E F F E CT S?
S
ince time immemorial, gold has fascinated and sometimes even
driven society in every corner of the globe. Whether it’s a gift to
the rich, poor, young or old, if it’s special and cherished, it’s lined
in gold. Merck has now introduced a color kit that focuses on exactly this
single, symbolic, eternal element: gold.
The main target market for these samples is the automotive sector.
The idea is to give standard colors the Midas touch with gold effects that
have everything it takes to go beyond normal applications. They add
a golden highlight to a variety of colors, add a special touch to trend
colors, and give solid colors extra shine in the sunlight, with a golden
sparkle that gleams and glitters from the surface.
The trends and selection of options we provide may even pique the interest
of the consumer electronics industry and other companies that use plastic
coatings. Whatever the end application, the impact of gold effects is the
same – gold adds highlights, gold adds sophistication, it draws in the eye
and instantly cries out, “I’m special!”. In marketing speak, the effects covered by these creative stylings are all about differentiation.
All of this is aptly reflected by the new gold tool, which not only includes new additions to the range like Xirallic® Leonis Gold and Meoxal®
Taklamakan Gold, but also established and widely used classics like
Xirallic® Sunbeam Gold, Pyrisma® Colorspace Yellow, and Iriodin® Star
Gold. But the colors in the tool are not just pure gold, instead it offers modern colors with golden highlights for automotive and plastic applications.
Whatever the right choice is for your desired effect, these samples provide
handy help with the decision-making process.
The tool approaches gold from two angles. If you want to work through
gold options systematically, you can explore the features and effects of
five gold pigments step by step – in a similar way to the well-known,
systematic Merck color cards. Alternatively, if it’s about instinctively instant inspiration and you’re looking for something more creative to reflect
the latest developments, maybe focus instead on the trend stylings.
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THE METHODICAL METHOD
This systematic selection shows the five gold pigments in combination
with absorption pigments. The base colors that are covered by these
examples are mixtures of green, red, yellow, and carbon black.
The target is to show the individual characteristics of the pigments in terms
of color, sparkle, and hiding power. With this tool, you can clearly see how
one golden effect pigment compares to the other options.
The tool includes a brochure with descriptions of the different qualities,
complemented by special color chips – small coated plastic cards with the
exact effect each pigment creates.
THE CREATIVE TRACK
The other part of the tool shows more creative stylings and is less about
systematically working through options. The kit includes samples of trend
colors for automotive and plastic applications on color chips. There are
around 20 different colors based on global trends, each carefully chosen
to allow developers to push the boundaries of possibility and maybe even
inspire colleagues to think beyond the here and now. The themes covered are elegance, using gold as a symbol of fascination and attraction;
self-centeredness, which is about gold signaling uniqueness; and nature.
The Subtle Elegance theme preaches quality not quantity. People want to
derive value from products and seek uality. Gold reflects uality in combination with elegance – without overstatement. So placing emphasis and
creating atmosphere can be achieved with subtle highlights in classic and
subdued tones. For example, rose can be used with an intensive sparkle,
deep red with a multifaceted effect that plays with the light, classic brown
tones or even black with golden highlights, or champagne to add sophistication.
With the Younique theme, the spotlight is turned on self-realization and
self-portrayal in a world increasingly dominated by pluralism. Everything
can be adapted to match personal tastes, with expressions of individual
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personality underscoring liberty and the freedom of expression. Gold is
part of this personal expression. In brash green, it adds an intensive golden sparkle; in light gray, the golden tone only sets a sparkling highlight
in the light; in blue and cyan, the gold is more subtle and supports the
stronger color.
With the third theme, Kiss of Nature, we look around the corner to sustainability. Modern society has embraced environmentalism in consciousness and action, with movements focusing on preservation as the great
outdoors becomes the new indoors. Gold in nature is as bright as the
sun – warm and full of vitality, inner energy mirrored by the brave colors
of nature, colors dancing between sun and shade. Gold is even at home in
community farming and packaging-free outlets, copper has orange-gold
highlights, chestnut sparkles in golden orange, mustard yellow is invigorated by a golden glimmer of autumn sunshine, green has added depth and
contour thanks to golden effects.
All in all, the new gold tool reflects everything you’d e pect from
a gold-standard range of pigments. Armed with the systematic or the creative alternative, it’s a golden gun in any developer’s armory.
This tool helps you achieve everything from classic gold tones that
have caught the imagination of kings and queens for generations, to
modern-generation alternatives and effects reminiscent of nature. Gold
adds a finishing touch to many kinds of color schemes and it doesn’t
take much sparkle and shimmer to make any surface special and more
appealing.
XIRALLIC® SUNBEAM GOLD
XIRALLIC® LEONIS GOLD
PYRISMA® YELLOW
(substrate: aluminum oxide
(substrate: aluminum oxide
(substrate: natural mica)
akes) is about creating an
akes) is the rst pigment
e ect with plenty of sparkle
in the irallic family with
ment with an emphasis on
to bring out the sunny side
full- edged golden masstone
not being over-interfering.
of colors.
and an extraordinarily in-
It delivers high transparency
tense sparkle. It’s particularly
and is positioned under the
appealing in green and
reddish gold pigments.
is an interference e ect pig-
yellow stylings.
IRIODIN® STAR GOLD
(substrate: natural mica) is
MEOXAL®
TAKLAMAKAN GOLD
a classic among the gold
(substrate: aluminum akes)
e ect pigments and the
is ideal if hiding power is
embodiment of the kind of
high on the agenda, with an
pearl luster e ect that has
outstanding color saturation
been re ning gold colors
and a subtle, sophisticated
for years.
angle on sparkle.
Subtle Elegance
On this page: Iriodin® 25
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A lighter side to adding form to function
LA S E R D I R E CT S T R U CT U R I N G ( L D S ) I S T H E H OT T E S T WAY TO I N S C R I B E M AT E R I A L S A N D
M A K E T H E M E L E CT R I CA L LY CO N D U CT I V E. W I T H T H E I R I OT E C ® 8000 RA N G E O F P I G M E N T S
A N D G RA N U L E S, LO N G - E S TA B L I S H E D N O R M S M AY B E CO N S I G N E D TO H I S TO RY.
Younique
T
he first area in which Iriotec® is leaving its mark –
in more sense than one – is circuit boards. Iriotec®
technology builds on breakthroughs from the end
of the 20th century. It was around that time that 3 mechatronic integrated devices were dreamt up, going beyond
flat boards and immediately allowing for new mechanical, electronic, optical, and thermal functions. Now with
Iriotec® 8000, another unneeded barrier has been broken
down No longer do plastic or powder-coated metallic components have to have a dark background.
sing lasers to add fine metal structures to components has
its limitations. Not every plastic or powder-coated material
is suitable for metallization. f course there were already
ways to get around this, but only if your designers would
accept dark backgrounds. Following a collaborative development project with LP F it is now possible to achieve finer
structures and superior metallization properties.
So now circuit boards no longer have to be mere flat objects
on dark colors. They can take on new forms, include a wide
range of functions, and – welcome news for many – stop
looking so drab. The new process allows product developers
and designers to e plore new shapes and colors at the same
time.And because the pigments are e tremely heat-resistant,
they can be used in thermoplastic as well as duroplastic
materials.
Some markets will find breaking beyond flat-world thinking and e ploring light-colored Iriotec 8000 laser pigments
e tremely welcome. These include industries like telecommunications, medical devices, and the automotive industry.
ust take cell phones for e ample, where more and more
functions have to be crammed into e tremely tight spaces.
Because laser beams can now inscribe circuit layouts directly
onto plastic components – of any color – all sorts of plastic
or metallic powder-coated parts can be made significantly
The 3-step LDS process in an injection-molded component*
Kiss of Nature
The single-component
injection mold which
contains an Iriotec® 8000
pigment is ready for laser
structuring
Surface after laser
structuring
* The same steps may be applied to a powder-coated metal component when the powder coating contains laser-sensitive pigments
from the Iriotec® 8000 Series.
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lighter, smaller, and more appealing. They are also easier to
conceal. In medical technology markets, too, devices are now
achieving almost miniature proportions. This is also an ideal
area for inscribed circuits.
And then there are car markets. Some modern vehicles are
practically evolving into mobile electronic devices, with
circuit boards hidden away in a surprising number of areas.
So car producers will welcome the opportunity to reinvent
parts and sensors with Iriotec 8000 technology. This will
not only benefit safety features for drivers and passengers,
it will also make driving more comfortable and economical.
ow Laser marked circuits can help reduce the number of materials in cars, with knock-on benefits in terms of production
costs and fuel economy. Even related items in the car industry
such as keys, plugs, and connection devices can be taken to
a whole new level.
As for e perts further upstream in industrial processes – like
developers and designers who are just itching to e periment
– Iriotec 8000 will allow them to let their imaginations run
wild. Especially since this new technology makes it possible to offer 3 MI s in light-colored plastics and powdercoated metal parts. As we are already seeing from some of
the 3 parts that have been invented, this is highly likely
to fuel new designs and allow brands to e press new visual
concepts. Everyone is bound to see parts that were previously unimaginable, combining new colors with function.
The only things we may not notice on these parts – without
the trained eye or special e uipment – will be the much finer
structures that are now possible.
If you would like to know more about this process patented
by LP F, the license agreement needed and the amazing array of application areas, go to www.lpkf.com or ask a Merck
representative.
Time
to get used
to novel forms and
functions - from
light bulbs to robot
fingers.
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On this page: Colorstream®
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Untouched, but clearly marked
T H A N K S T O A Q U I C K - A S - A - F L A S H R E A C T I O N T O L A S E R L I G H T, Y O U
C A N N O W LA S E R M A R K T H I N-LAY E R A P P L I C AT I O N S S U C H A S F I L M S O R
P O W D E R-C O AT E D M AT E R I A L S.
L
aser beams can get hot and usually that’s not a problem, but there are times when thermal influences have
to be avoided, for e ample, when the area surrounding
the marking should be left in mint condition. This could be on
a safety component in the automotive industry, on something
as delicate as a film, or even a powder-coated metallic material.
With Iriotec 8850, not only is it possible to laser mark plastic,
a print effect can be added to metals with a powder coating.
The process i.e., the marking speed is so fast, that the laser
only has to be applied for a fraction of a second, leaving
the surface of the material smooth and virtually untouched.
In fact, the effect is even undetectable to the touch.
The material itself comes in the form of a color-neutral pigment powder. When this pigment is e posed to laser energy,
it changes color in an instant, leaving behind a perfect, dark
marking. The results are e tremely precise with plenty of
contrast.
The beauty with Iriotec 8850 is that marking can basically be
carried out contact-free. As a result, the protective properties
of powder coatings can be preserved, with zero surface damage despite absolutely durable marking.
Not only will this be welcome news to FMCG companies
who need to apply e piration dates to perishable items, but
other areas of manufacturing also re uire carefully applied
markings – just consider the tracking numbers and other information printed on automotive parts. But the innovation
doesn’t end there. Architects and designers looking to create
new and interesting finishing touches or decorative elements
on designer furniture may well get in line to work with
Iriotec® 8850.
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COATINGS
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2 Blue, Biflair® 66 A, insert: Xirallic® NXT Tigris Blue
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Tigris Blue
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Inspired by nature, innovated by Merck
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L I K E T H E A Z U R E E Y E S O F E XOT I C W H I T E W I L D CAT S, M E RC K H A S
P E R F E CT E D Y E T A N OT H E R S L E E K A N D G RAC E F U L P I G M E N T T H AT
CATC H E S T H E L I G H T W I T H A V I VAC I O U S G L E A M. I T B OA S T S T R U E B L U E
P U R I T Y W I T H A T W I N K L E T H AT R I VA L S T H E S TA R S I N T H E H E AV E N S.
M
erck proudly presents Tigris Blue, the third
ferocious pigment in its Xirallic® NXT line.
Following in the tracks of Panthera Silver
and Leonis Gold, this neutral blue effect pigment has
an intensity and brilliance that looks great in any
light.
Excellent on its own or in combination with other
pigments, Tigris Blue adds heavenly depth to stylings with extremely high purity and strong sparkle. This transparent blue interference color has
a clear color in the down flop. Its three-dimensional
elegance catches the light in all-new ways. Playful as
a cat, it frisks about in the light, adding depth to black
and dark blue stylings.
The secret to Xirallic® pigments lies in their composition: aluminum oxide platelets featuring a tight particle size distribution. Once the substrate is coated with
highly refractive metal oxides, the pigment starts to
take on a life of its own, demonstrating breathtaking
sparkle and shimmer behavior from any angle. In fact,
the sparkling particles seem to dance, moving from
one place to another as the viewing angle changes.
That’s what we call “living sparkle” here at Merck.
Merck stands for innovative, sophisticated products,
holding up its latest addition to the Xirallic® portfolio
as a pigment of sheer perfection. With fantastic dispersion qualities, it can easily be formulated in liquid and
powder coatings. It’s ideal for both outdoor and indoor
use, including automotive applications, plastics and
powder coatings, and industrial paints.
Working with Xirallic® NXT Tigris Blue is a great way
to enhance any finish with cool, deep, limitless beauty
and radiance. As always, Merck is on hand to support
your endeavors and would be delighted to help you
see how a simple effect pigment can transform your
products.
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TAKE A TRIP through the enchanting world of Merck’s
irallic e ect pigments. Our Evolution ox showcases all of
the pigments in our irallic line, including those from the
T family.This little treasure trove o ers you a wealth of information and inspiration. The contents include 24 exciting
color stories covering a broad color spectrum, complete with
information on technical performance, applications, and
suggested uses. This is where knowledge meets creativity.
The Evolution ox also contains a short lm (stored on
a S stick), presenting the next generation of irallic
e ect pigments. And you can see and feel these pigments in
action: Simply behold eonis old which was used to re ne
the S stick included in the box.
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COATINGS
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COATINGS
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A brand
revisited
IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE MERCK’S
PREMIUM PIGMENT BRAND HIT THE MARKET – HIGH
T I M E T O L O O K I N O N S U P R I M A® F O R T H E L A T E S T
D E V E L O P M E N T S A N D A S N E A K P E E K A T W H A T ’ S N E X T.
A
s the name suggests, Suprima®
is Merck’s premium umbrella
brand for high- uality, highperformance pigments. These products are
accompanied by detailed dossiers covering
everything from technical specifications
to performance data and industry-specific
application information. This level of detail – provided for each pigment – makes
the products ideal for manufacturers operating in regulated markets.
The brand was launched in early 2015
with Meo al® Wahiba range and Taklamakan Gold for coatings, and Ronastar®
Noble Sparks and Golden ewel for cosmetics. Merck’s ne t Suprima® releases
will include Colorstream® Lava Red, Pyrisma® Blue, and irallic® Leonis Gold, all
of which will appear by the end of the year.
Further launches are planned for 2016, with
several of these launches featuring products
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for coating applications.
In addition, the Suprima® concept will also
be e tended to include the industrial applications pigment portfolio printing and
plastics and conse uently start with two
Suprima® dossiers giving insights on products from the Iriodin® Icy White series.
As can be e pected, the dossiers for these
two synthetic mica pigments will contain
all available data in just one document,
providing regulatory statements as well
as details and findings on anti-yellowing
testing.
The Suprima® dossiers for coatings contain valuable information for customers.
Among other things, they cover color and
performance data. Given as dLab and dE
values in the specification and certificate
of analysis, the color values help customers to better understand the pigment characteristics and uality.
In addition to these specific values, the
dossiers provide e tensive information on
the coloristic properties of the pigment.
This includes details such as its position
within the u’v’ color space compared to
other pigments in Merck’s portfolio. The
performance data provided is central to
the dossier and reveals details of how the
pigment fared in testing. This information
helps customer to make tangible savings.
Each Suprima® pigment has been e tensively tested by e perts and compared to
established industry products. As a result,
customers can see at a glance how the
Suprima® pigment will meet their uni ue
needs for any given application. The performance data includes particle size determined through light microscopic imaging , appearance, humidity resistance, and
weather stability – all clearly documented.
Merck doesn’t stop there. Armed with
a fine-tuned understanding of products
and materials, we know how certain contaminants can affect final results. eenly
aware, for e ample, of the disastrous effect
that silicones can have on paint coatings,
we have identified and eliminated risk
factors relating to contamination. The farreaching protective measures established
by Merck to prevent silicone contamination are also outlined in the Suprima®
dossiers. In a similar vein, we’ve taken
steps to enhance the packaging, transport,
and storage of our pigments. This means
customers can put their faith in the packaging as well as in the product itself – because our powder-based pigments come in
a bag consisting of specially developed,
transparent polypropylene foil that’s
guaranteed to be antistatic, meeting even
the American Military Standard.
The Suprima® dossiers are truly uni ue
in the industry. It’s our way of going
far beyond the average to provide customers with 360 support, helping them
save time, money, and frustration by providing them with all of the information
they could possibly need. It’s simply
Suprima®.
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Cosmic Gold
MEOXAL® WAHIBA ORANGE
The rst pigment in Merck’s Meoxal Desert Colors line, Wahiba Orange captures all the warmth and radiance of Oman’s Wahiba Sands.
The accompanying Suprima dossier features extensive test data for
color and performance. As part of this testing, it was compared to
another established product from Merck’s portfolio: Iriodin 9508
SW Orange. The dossier also provides information on the aluminum
pigment’s gassing stability, which helps determine the uality of its
passivation. This is special data gathered for Meoxal pigments. These
pigments o er longer shelf life two years compared to the industry
standard of ust one year and all of this is neatly documented in
detailed test results provided in the dossier.
MEO A TA AMA A O D
With the second pigment in the Desert Colors series, Merck takes
us to Asia to China’s Taklamakan Desert to be more precise.
As a Meoxal pigment, naturally it also boasts exemplary gassing
stability and extended shelf life when compared to the industry
standard. For the dossier, this pigment is compared with another
from Merck’s Iriodin line: oyal old. ust as for its predecessor,
the extensive data gathered through testing and product comparisons is collected in the accompanying dossier document.
CO O ST EAM A A ED
As the name suggests, the third pigment to be released under the
Suprima label is nothing less than volcanic: Colorstream ava ed
is a veritable eruption of red. ut it doesn’t ust o er a powerful
color, it also delivers powerful performance conveniently
documented in the product dossier. The pro le covers color and
performance test comparisons with Iriodin ed and irallic
adiant ed, highlighting its excellent hiding power and intense
chroma. Other outstanding test results show that this pigment
is ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications. It can easily
enhance automotive and plastic coatings as well as industrial
paints.
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PRINTING AND PLASTICS
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On this page: Miraval® 5430 Cosmic Gold
On this page: Miraval® 5 5
Cosmic
inspiration
TWO NEW EFFECT PIGMENTS NOW OFFER DEEP
S PA R K L E A N D H I G H B R I L L I A N C E F O R V I S U A L
E F F E C T S T H A T S I M P LY L O O K O U T O F T H I S W O R L D .
Schematic structure of Miraval®
Incident light
e ection
Fe2O3 / TiO2
SiO2
Borosilicate
1 m
20 200 m
Scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the Miraval® particle edge
Miraval® 5430 Cosmic Gold (2 %)
Miraval® 5430 Cosmic Gold (3 %)
500 nm
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A
s part of a continuing spacerace mission to inject premium value products with
extraordinary brilliance and powerful
color, Merck has introduced two new
high-value products for the industrial
segment: Miraval® Cosmic Gold and
Bronze.
Primarily suited – but not limited – to
print and plastics, the new effect pigments from the Miraval® Cosmic line
are based on calcium aluminum borosilicate, a highly useful substrate
that is taken as a starting point before adding a coating with various
metal oxides. All Miraval® pearl effect
pigments consist of synthetic borosilicate flakes, coated with a protective
silica layer and TiO2 in rutile modification. The difference between these new
pigments and other Miraval® effects lies
in the increased hiding power of these
new solutions.
To launch the Cosmic rocket, Merck
took inspiration from solar colors,
starting at the top of the pedestal
with Miraval® Cosmic Gold. This pigment has a particle size of 20–200
m, resulting in high-covering, glittering gold accents for formulations.
Going where no effect has gone before,
it can be used as a single colorant for
an unprecedented, highly brilliant, pure
gold effect. In combination with other
effect pigments or colorants, this adds
extraordinary appeal to print and plastics products.
You don’t necessarily need dark background colors to see the stunning effect
of Miraval® Cosmic Gold. Due to the
strong body color of the pigment itself,
it can be put to efficient use in small
or large concentrations to achieve some
sensational effects – as you can see on
the printed chips.
The other rocket that took off with its
golden sister ship is Miraval® Cosmic
Bronze. This also has a particle size of
20–200 m and uses the layer thick-
ness and sequence of application
of the metal oxides onto the substrate
to produce a unique look and feel. With
a similar impact on background colors,
this effect offers a rich bronze hue with
high brilliance, gloss, and incredible
hiding power – even in small concentrations.
Developers in the cosmetics sector will
be familiar with these effects from Ronastar® Golden Jewel and Copper Jewel,
and with these rich golden and bronze
effects, customers can now let inside
applications meet outside applications,
adding incredible glitter and intensity to
materials.
The areas in which these two new effects
are likely to be used include printed
materials such as wallpapers, paper
coatings, and textile prints. But they
are also perfect for other areas of the
upper price segment. Initial customer
feedback has been extremely positive,
so the products are likely to shoot into
space among brand owners, designers, creative artists, ink manufacturers,
and of course printers. The effects are
suitable for fle o, silk screen, gravure
printing, and offset coating. They can
also be applied to packaging produced
in extrusion processes, extrusion blow
molding, cast film e trusion, and injection molding.
Although both pigments can be used
in areas as diverse as household appliances, consumer goods, toys, sporting
goods, and flooring, they comply fully
with food packaging regulations –
welcome news if you want to achieve
a sophisticated look that entices customers at the POS.
Overall, the inside-out concept underlying both pigments will result in
some stunning product surfaces and
packaging effects, delivering spaceage brilliance and glamour previously
only associated with high value applications like consumer electronics,
pralines, or cosmetics and make-up.
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Cosmic Silver
J
ust in case you’re wondering why the new Miraval® Cosmic range only
seems to be focusing on first and third medals with its gold and bronze
effects: watch this space. In 2016, Miraval® Cosmic Silver will be rising
over the horizon.
Miraval® 5450 Cosmic Bronze (2 %)
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Miraval® 5450 Cosmic Bronze (3 %)
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Cosmic Bronze
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7225 Ultra Blue, Biflair® 66 A
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Merck recently became
the only manufacturer in
the world of organic and
inorganic polysilazanes special-purpose polymers
used in a wide spectrum
of industries.
Surfaces with superpowers
E V E R S E E A S U R F A C E P R A C T I C A L LY R E P E L A N E X T E R N A L S U B S T A N C E ?
I T M A Y H A V E B E E N C O A T E D W I T H D U R A Z A N E ™ – A N A M A Z I N G P O LY S I LA Z A N E
R E S I N P R O D U C E D E X C L U S I V E LY B Y M E R C K .
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F
ollowing a recent acquisition, Merck
is now the only manufacturer in the
world to offer a complete range of
wonder-substances: organic and inorganic
polysilazanes. These polymers are extremely
useful for customers in a broad array of industries and they’re a neat fit with Merck’s
innovative portfolio of Functional Materials.
Polysilazanes are special-purpose polymers
used in coatings with the ability to transform
metal, wood, plastic, glass, ceramics and even
paper into miraculously coated materials.
Surfaces coated with polysilazanes can repel
water, resist corrosion, become fire-resistant,
promise to be non-fouling and much more.
Just one transparent coat suddenly makes
a surface resistant to wear and abrasion, even
fending off thermal influences and thwarting
graffiti artists – thanks to a surface that is
easy to clean and a topcoat that’s invisible to
the naked eye.
Polysilazanes are easy to use as long as
certain criteria like humidity and porosity are taken into consideration.
The surfaces to which they can be applied
(typically by spraying or wiping) must be prepared carefully before application.
This is because polysilazanes react quickly
when they come into contact with water. But
once the new surface application has dried, its
magic starts to take effect – and this magic
lasts and lasts!
Before Merck acquired these products, there
were few companies producing these materials, which were difficult and costly to develop.
Now they are becoming much more established, quite simply because of their unique
characteristics. In fact, customers in many
different sectors of industry are instantly won
over by their uni ue benefits.
They can be used on a wide range of materials from polycarbonates to chrome, aluminum
and all kinds of surfaces found in the automotive sector, aerospace, shipping, architecture,
and transportation. This allows companies to
make appealing claims about their surfaces,
using marketing terms like “scratch resistance, anti-graffiti, easy-to-clean, anticorrosion” and the list goes on and on!
MERCK’S POLYSILAZANES are marketed under the brand name
Durazane™. To see it in action, simply scan the QR code to watch our
video and nd out more about the incredible power of polysilazanes.
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COATINGS
Automotive Color Inspiration
beyond the horizon
U N D E R S TA N D I N G T R E N D S H A S N E V E R B E E N A 9 TO 5 J O B.
F O R T R E N D S P OT T E R S, I T’S A WAY O F L I F E – A T H I R S T F O R
T H E N E W , A N A B I L I T Y T O P E R C E I V E , I N T E R P R E T, A N D C H A N N E L
I D E A S I N T O I N N O V A T I O N S . A N D I T I N V O LV E S D I S C I P L I N E .
W
Trendspotting is
about an innate sense
for novel trends and
future possibilities.
The rest is down to
hard work...
atching and spotting trends is one of those
abilities that starts young. Some have it, others don’t. Some learn it, but for those who are
born with an eye for the new, who can perceive small shifts,
notice changes in society and translate these into a picture,
then like many artists, they may have what it takes to be
a trendspotter.
E perts in this field watch how the arts and the creative
scene respond to shifts in society. They observe images
and themes popular in movies and books. They follow social media, technology, architecture, cars, interior design,
music, even trade show installations. Automobile shows
in Frankfurt, Geneva, Detroit, Tokyo, and Shanghai are
regularly on their agenda. Then there are Maison et Objet
Paris, London Design Week, the Milan Furniture Exhibition, Heimtextil Frankfurt, and Neocon Chicago.
If you speak to experts about their work, they tell you that
small differences matter. These are a blossom of inspiration. The unknown intrigues them, they try to guess if
a breath of fresh air will be big one day, or mainstream.
r maybe it should be ignored as a distraction or flash in
the pan”.
To oil the cogs, trendspotters “get out there.” They network
in a world full of discovery. They talk to people spotting
the same things, share thoughts, discuss images, explore
philosophies, or even dare to second-guess future scenar-
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ios. Merck is also involved in one such network: the Color
Marketing Group (CMG). This international association of
color professionals and marketers from all sorts of industries
regularly organizes international ChromaZone workshops
(also known as color forecasting meetings), plus annual
summits in Europe and North America.
For Filip Roscam, an active Board Member of the CMG,
exchanging notes with other raw materials manufacturers
companies is an ideal way to explore, share experiences
with best-selling colors in certain industries, and look
to the future. Then there are the brand owners like Nike,
Target, Dell, and Toyota, plus other networking partners
like Global Colour Research (London, UK), Peclers (Paris,
France), and Marschall Design (Melbourne, Australia).
For Roscam, this is second nature, like people who watch
the clouds and sky to predict the weather.
Indeed a lot of Roscam’s (non-9 to 5) job is like looking out
of the window – through his trendspotter telescope – seeing
leaves rustling on the trees of society, gauging the winds of
change, checking if similar winds are blowing around the
world. Where’s the breeze stronger? Can he “guestimate”
and predict the important trends of tomorrow?
After making the observations, the difficult bit is visualizing and expressing concepts, conveying them in such
a way that people without the trendspotting telescope can still make sense of them. No long stories now.
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COATINGS
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On this page: Pyrisma® T30-23 Blue, Iriodin® 72 7 Ultra
er, Biflair® 66 A
New colors
often emerge
after networking,
comparing with
others, and
exploration in
the lab.
Instead: materials, actual social trends, and how these
translate into colors and visual imagery. In areas like the
car industry, this is tricky because people everywhere attach
meaning to colors. For example, white and light blue became synonymous with sustainability and environmentalism, which were never about the colors of “green” materials
or brown paper bags. Instead, the signals veered toward the
pure and clean.
Turning to how trends become actions in business and how
this fuels developments, Merck also has its own trend panel.
For the latest set of Global Automotive Color Inspirations
(which went live this year), Merck reached out to the community and its trend networks. Last year, 12 specialists from
all around the world convened in London to look broad,
think big, and explore. Their priority was not just the automotive industry. When trendspotting, lots of things are
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thrown into the pot: lifestyle trends, social changes, behavioral patterns, everything. Afterwards, there was more work
for Merck in-house to fine-tune, turn trends into stories,
and make concepts tangible. The result: an array of colors,
all matched to the respective target group – the car market.
We invest major resources in trendspotting
because global ideas can start in the most
unexpected places. But with the right tools,
a “whiff of inspiration” can be the start of
something new. Look out for our demo tools
in 2016, all based on our observations.
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Sometimes these were small differences, nuances and variations on a theme. Sometimes this meant more tame color
flops or added brilliance, especially compared to colors in
consumer electronics.
To show what a trend looks like in a formulation, Merck has
its demo tools. Now the specialists spend more time in the
coatings lab. For months, concepts are reworked and revisited in an interactive process to explore options and new pigments. How far can a styling go? Where are the boundaries?
This is about daring to go further, beyond the acceptable or
feasible. It’s always possible to downgrade and pull back
the boundaries later. Also, by exploring new realms, Merck
helps customers explore possibilities. Yes, a color may be
too much now, but based on experience, Merck knows that
this process is necessary. There have been some thrilling
conversations with customers about formulations, technology, processes, and the color demands of entire industries.
Special attention is also given, not to what is shown but
how it’s shown. The different themes and colors are deliberately presented on large, bendy color chips to help customers evaluate effects from different angles. Workshops are set
up, with audiovisual materials including movies and mood
boards. This helps customers visualize stylings with real-life
examples from artists, designers, and photographers. Merck
even adds its own music to reflect atmospheres and themes
behind a color. Then there’s a voiceover in 6 languages to
bring each tool closer to the customer (available in English,
French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish).
The priority after all the months of observation, deliberation, networking, creative thinking, exploring, developing,
refining, revising, and reformulating, is simple to inspire.
And when we see the results achieved by direct customers in
the paint, plastics, and printing industries – plus the effects
used by our many indirect customers at car companies – it’s
extremely satisfying. What was once just a hint of an idea,
is part of a global trend.
NEW TRENDS FILIP HAS SPOTTED FOR YOU INCLUDE:
The punk we-economy: millennials who were told they’re special, despite humdrum
lives. They survive by co-creating and cooperating, ethically. Colors: strong; deepe ect blues, ashy pearlescent reds and an accent of slightly colored mica blacks.
aturmorphosis: inspiration and the enduring “back to basics”, rooted in nature to nd
true sustainability. The future: deceptive natural elements like oversized oral patterns,
microscopic images forming extraterrestrial shapes. Colors: natural with strong
interference or sparkle to surprise. lowing browns, dark grays and reds, plus gold.
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On this page: Miraval® 5430 Cosmic Gold , Iriodin® 325 Solar Gold Satin
On this page: Iriodin® 325 Solar Gold Satin
Excellence
for elegance
T H E B E S T T H I N G S I N L I F E A R E S H A R E D. M U C H L I K E S U CC E S S,
WHICH IS BEST ENJOYED THROUGH TEAMWORK. IN THIS VEIN, MERCK
PA RT N E R E D U P W I T H S O M E T R U E M A R K E T L E A D E R S TO H E L P C R E AT E
WO N D RO U S WO R K S O F A RT F O R T H E H O M E.
T
he location: Erbach, Germany. The company:
Koziol ideas for friends. The mission: charming and elegant household products for the new
winter collection. When a company renowned for its
artistic and practical household items decides to go
for gold with their latest ensemble, the next step is
masterbatching.
The location: Blankenhain, Germany. The company:
GRAFE Color Masterbatch. The mission: meeting the
unique requirements of Koziol in producing polymers
with just the right colors for their newest collection.
When a world leader in masterbatching takes on the
task of creating exceptionally colored polymers for
their customers, the next step is pigment perfection.
The location: Darmstadt, Germany. The company surely
needs no introduction.
The mission: working with GRAFE to deliver the very
best for Koziol’s winter collection. Partnering with
GRAFE, Merck helped to develop the perfect masterbatch plastics for Koziol. The result: charming elegance
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for the home, as bright as the season for which it was
designed – Winter 2015/2016.
To create alluring seasonal favorites, Merck recommended products that were sure to add a touch of luxury to
the items in the new collection. Working with GRAFE,
they decided in favor of a metal-free pigment that
offers a combination of color travel, sparkle, and
transparency – all in one. The intense sparkle
creates a sophisticated glittering effect that
catches the eye and the imagination.
The results were undeniable: the new
items in the winter collection boast
a heavenly dramatic opulence.
Perfect for the holidays, they add gentle warmth and cheer that lifts spirits
during that colder, darker time of year.
Just see for yourself! Scan the QR code
to see the full collection for Koziol
Winter 2015/2016, and prepare to be
delighted.
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t i
On this page: Iriodin® 6107 Icy White Lightning
a e Biflair® 66 A
M
On the
face of it
C A R S A R E N ’ T T H E O N LY O B J E C T S T H A T
G RA B AT T E N T I O N O U T O N T H E RO A D. T H E V E RY
B U I L D I N G S T H AT L I N E T H E S T R E E T S A L S O H AV E
T H E P OT E N T I A L TO CATC H T H E E Y E – B U T A L L
TOO OFTEN, ARCHITECTS ERR ON THE SAFE SIDE,
ost buildings have a pretty standard construction: basic shapes, plain colors. Some modern
architects do try to break the mold, however,
designing impressive structures made of steel and glass –
unique buildings with every potential to change the face of
a skyline. Driven by the desire to give contemporary cityscapes that perfect touch, Merck has created powder coating
stylings and other solutions for almost any surface found
indoors or out. Whether applied to concrete, glass, plastics,
or metals , these coatings – and the pigments blended into
them – can take a building from drab to fab.
When it comes to building façades, customers have to
focus on stability in their choice of materials. The outside of a building should offer protection and durability,
with particular resistance to color fading and weathering.
Industry standards are incredibly high when it comes to
façade testing and Merck has the coating pigments to
match. Our powder, coil, and liquid coatings always make
the grade, whether they go into solutions used for corrosion
protection on steel, or whether they are needed for plastics.
As an e tra benefit, we can offer an unlimited use of effect
pigments – and we take care that these won't interfere
with the function of the material. We believe that a coating
specially formulated for weather resistance should get the
job done, even if effect pigments are added.
So buildings can now be exciting, using attractive colors
and high-tech coating innovations. But beyond the visible
result, customers also expect safe, stable coating processes.
With Merck, they can learn how to best use the pigments and
THE ARCHITECTURAL VISIONS BOX set takes building
designers on a journey of exploration. Comprised of
a four-part book series, readers can discover amazing
trends that are sure to inspire. The New Wing examines lightweight materials and constructions that
appear delicate, almost weightless. The secret behind
Source is the quest for all-natural manmade beauty,
with structures that seem to blend into the ecosystem. Around the Box returns to basics, shedding
light on standard shapes and strong colors. Over
the Binary Limit features high-performance
materials made of anything from plastics to
textiles, and shows how they can be used in
building design. It’s the ultimate design
tool for architects.
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COATINGS
coatings of their choice. That’s because Merck understands
customer processes and can offer support and expertise for
troubleshooting and application issues.
The magic is conjured up at our TAN labs, where our coatings are tested and expertise is developed. One of our TAN
centers has a whole department dedicated just to powder
coating testing. These TAN centers foster expert-to-expert
exchange, so customers can connect with specialists in
a partnership of equals. Special training workshops show
customers how to work with Merck’s pigments and coatings.
Merck works hard to understand the customer, pulling out
all the stops to enhance processes to make them safer and
more efficient.
At Merck, we believe that it’s the façade that people judge
first, not the pigment that helped create it. Working with
Merck, architects can achieve the right appearance and design building panels and coverings with very different coatings, all matched to the individual needs of the structure.
The options for this market seem endless.
We care for this market and do a lot for our customers in
this segment – inside and out. Ideal for external and indoor
applications, our coatings can cover the full spectrum of
architectural and design work: from façades and windows to
door frames, door handles, and even lighting fi tures. Powder coatings can be used for almost anything, and they are
a clean alternative to previous methods used in the industry.
Contact Merck today to find out more or re uest our brochure on the best use of effect pigments in powder coatings
– it’s the ultimate “how to” guide for coatings.
O R RAT H E R, T H E Y S O M E T I M E S U S E D TO.
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COATINGS
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On this page: Miraval® 5
TOMORROW’S ARCHITECTURE
must withstand the test of time.
Easy with durable and decorative
powder coatings. And Merck’s
pigments leave plenty creative
leeway, for one-of-a-kind
cityscapes.
COIL COATINGS
with e ect pigments from the
Colorstream® family can create
unique and exciting illusions,
transforming appearances from
a distance and thus underscoring
quality and variety.
a i
ite, Biflair® 66 A
l
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COATINGS
IRI IN®, P RISMA® AN
IRALLIC®
pigments can be used to conjure up powerful effects on
building façades. The lighting and the observer’s position
regulate the intensity of the color. Merck’s effect pigments have been tested for suitability for architectural use
based on industry standards. When used in combination
with high- or super-durable binding agents, they deliver
long-life color and effect stability. Thanks to our surface
treatments (WR, SW, and WNT), they are easy to use and
offer long-term effects and solid protection of the powder coat binders.
COATINGS DEVELOPED
with Merck e ect pigments also
let architects express their creativity
inside buildings. They’re ideal for
door and window frames, or even
wall and ceiling elements.
IRIOTEC 9880 COOLBLUE®
lters I light to reduce
temperatures behind glass.
It can be custom-printed
and is just one of the pigment
products developed with
the climate in mind.
lar
SOME LIFE FORMS
change their appearance over the course of a day flower
blossoms open and close in gentle cycles between rest and
activity. This virtual building follows circadian rhythms,
changing its appearance with the position of the sun.
This color travel effect is achieved by using Colorstream®
pigments in powder coatings for the façade elements.
Depending on the viewer’s perspective, the coating
changes color, underscoring the dynamic character of the
building for passersby.
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e i
l , Biflair® 66 A
On this page: Iriodin®
5
lar
l , Biflair® 66 A
Whiter than white?
C A N A S U P E R-W H I T E P I G M E N T
GLIMMER BRIGHTER THAN SNOW?
I T A L L D E P E N D S O N PA RT I C L E
S I Z E S A N D T H E CA PA B I L I T I E S O F
S U B S T RAT E S. S E E H O W T H E R I G H T
F O R M U LAT I O N C A N P RO D U C E J U S T
T H E R I G H T E F F E C T.
Marburg, Marburg, on the wall
E S T E L L E WA L LCOV E R I N G S – A P I CT U R E-P E R F E CT E XA M P L E
O F M E RC K’S B U S I N E S S C O L LA B O R AT I O N – A R E B RO U G H T
TO YO U B Y M A R B U RG, T H E WA L L PA P E R S P E C I A L I S T S.
D
esigners wondering whether it’s possible for
a pigment to outshine snow itself might find the answer
in a new product from the Iriodin® Icy White series:
a super-white pigment named Iriodin® 6111 Icy White Pristine.
Si th in the range, it’s the first with M fraction classification due
to its particularly fine particle size of 1-15 m.
With its synthetic glimmer substrate, it will round off the
synthetic mica portfolio and provide a super-white alternative to Iriodin® pigments based on natural substrates.
On account of its outstanding hiding power, it’s suited to all kinds
of print applications and even high-quality plastic packaging.
f course customers can count on the pigment for zero heavy
metal contamination, minimal impact on basic color, and increased chemical stability. And thanks to a uni ue Merck stabilization technology, the pigment stays white for longer.
Positioned nicely between natural mica and high-end
Miraval® pigments, the launch is scheduled for 1 2016. So who
knows Perhaps 2016 will see the printing and plastics industries
take their products to a whole new level of snow white purity.
T
he Estelle collection was developed to appeal to
discerning customers who seek understated elegance and timelessness. The range spans three
designs. The first is Peony, with buds in passive, shimmering contrasts – underscored by restrained hues of taupe,
sandstone and mother of pearl in an enchanting dance
between dull matte and shiny metallic qualities. The second motif features abstract forms. Individual panels work
well as a backdrop for furniture. Nestled in elongated ovals,
the pigments shimmer like tiny mirrors that flicker in blue
petrol, copper with basalt, deep sanguine red and platinum
accents.The third theme is grass, with delicate effects
that are reminiscent of seaweed – feathery leaves sway-
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ing in the tide. This gentle effect reflects a back and forth
between matte and shine, highlighted by a calming and expansive arctic blue, a gleaming silver and
a woolen white combined with mother of pearl elements.
All of the substrates are free from impurities with virtually
no mass color tone influence. Certain that Merck’s pigments
were ideal for sophisticated wallcoverings, marburg got
straight to work – designing and crafting wallpaper that
simply looks magic.
Scan the R code to discover more and contact your Merck
representative to see how you, too, can cast a spell with effect
pigments.
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COATINGS
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a i Blue, Biflair® 66 A
a i Blue, Biflair® 66 A
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A
day
in
a coatings
TAN center
AT M E RC K, W E K N O W H O W I M P O RTA N T I T I S TO M A K E S U R E
E V E RY T H I N G W E P RO D U C E A D H E R E S TO T H E H I G H E S T S TA N DA R D S
P O S S I B L E . W E D O N ’ T J U S T S A Y O U R P R O D U C T S A R E G R E A T, W E K N O W
T H E Y A R E – B E C A U S E W E W O R K W I T H T H E M D A I LY T O E N S U R E T H E Y
A R E S TAT E O F T H E A RT A N D E A S Y TO U S E.
N
othing underscores quality quite like support.
Armed with the technical evidence that products
are tried and tested, companies can offer their
customers ultimate service. That’s why Merck established
its Technical Applications Network (TAN), comprising
laboratory centers around the world, each specially designed to provide customers with professional assistance.
Some of our lab centers are dedicated exclusively to coatings (COA-TAN), with specialists on hand to offer urgent
troubleshooting and detailed technical training. Effekte
took an exclusive look behind the scenes at just such
a technical center.
The TAN labs are key to Merck’s quality promise. With 100
technicians positioned globally to develop and improve
products, customers can rely on this unique service, wherever they are based in the world. Here they can learn more
about Merck’s products and precisely how to use them.
COA-TANs are also specially equipped to provide primary
customers from various industries with superior support.
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Automotive coatings customers, for example, can take
advantage of the bell spraying capabilities offered in
these labs.
These larger customers can also hone their microscopy
knowledge and even work with lab staff to establish
specific testing criteria. This allows Merck’s TAN experts to channel their microscopy competence and
provide customers with specific results and complete
styling proposals. TAN technicians have come to be
considered Merck’s very own pigment experts with
extremely detailed knowledge of stylings and pigment
behavior.
Another interesting point: All performance data for the
Suprima® dossiers is collected at the TAN labs. The centers
are part of an end-to-end service portfolio that Merck offers
to its customers. We talked to Dr. Matthias Lergenmüller,
who kindly provided us with insights into the work carried
out at such a C A-TAN. Read on to find out how these labs
do what they do best.
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On this page: Miraval® 5424 Magic Blue, Iriodin®
ite i t i , Biflair® 66 A
As far as I’m aware, none of our competitors offer this type
of service, not to this extent. That’s why Merck is often
approached for consultations and troubleshooting.
We were even involved in an E project – a scientific
project about pigment sparkle – thanks to the know-how
we’ve developed at our TAN labs.
Effekte: How is staff organized at the different TAN labs?
Are there specialist teams with experts for various fields
or applications?
Dr. Lergenmüller: Larger centers like the ones located in
the U.S. or Germany have a director with several section
specialists for specific projects. ere in Germany, there’s
a team that works a lot on automobile coatings, for example. There’s even a specific technical service team
dedicated solely to automotive applications. In China,
we have individuals responsible for specific applications
for example, specialists for cosmetics or coatings. Not all
applications are covered in the smaller labs, but if something is not covered, it gets forwarded to the right center.
This is part of our “TANGO” set up (the global IT tool of
the TAN organization). So customers can rest assured that
they’ll receive the support they need – whatever their location, whatever the issue.
Effekte: How many TAN centers are there?
Dr. Lergenmüller: Five. One in Europe, one in the U.S.
and one in China, plus one center specialized in coatings
located in Japan. There are also smaller units to offer support in other segments like cosmetics or additional industrial applications being close to customers. These centers
offer plenty of support in both business fields, decorative
and functional applications.
Effekte: How do the TAN specialists interact with the R&D
experts? Do they give each other two-way support?
Dr. Lergenmüller: R&D generally approaches TAN with
new developments, not the other way around. Everything
that’s developed must go to a TAN center for testing.
This is important because the R&D department is focused
on material development and therefore won’t have the
broad spectrum of technical equipment and expertise nec-
Dr. Matthias
Lergenmüller
Head of PM-P
Technology Application
Network
Effekte: What exactly do TAN labs do? How do they add
value for customers?
Dr. Lergenmüller: For one thing, these labs allow Merck to
stay close to customers. Our lab technicians work intensely
with all of our products, so they know them inside-out.
It puts us in a position to help customers with application issues and to solve any problems that might arise. But
it’s also a two way street – our customers can either send
things to the lab, or, alternatively, TAN team members will
work on-site to support these customers where necessary.
One great example of this is our work with microscopy.
Microscopy is used for root cause analysis, which is helpful
when product applications don’t deliver the desired results.
Since customers often can’t carry out this type of analysis
themselves, we use microscopy to identify where a given
problem might lie. Merck is a forerunner in this area.
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On this page: Miraval® 5424 Magic Blue, Iriodin®
essary to carry out all of the tests according to customer’s
standards. The equipment used at the TAN centers is also
vital to put us in a position to give customers the right
advice. This is what makes the TAN labs a USP for Merck
– the centers can meet the customers’ technical requirements and this also helps the marketing department by
showing how to best use certain products.
Effekte: Apart from the microscopy tools mentioned above,
what other innovative equipment is used at these centers?
Dr. Lergenmüller: The tools used at the TAN labs certainly don’t stop at specialized microscopy equipment.
We also have things like the GONIO vision box, which
allows us to look at pigments in an auto coating under
special lighting conditions and from very specific angles.
These angles have been agreed within the automotive
industry as a common point of reference. We can use this
box to scrutinize automotive coatings applied to special
panels. It’s a patented technology and can only be found
in our TAN labs.
We’ve also developed a special computer program to
“Everything that’s developed must go to a TAN
center for testing … The equipment used at the
TAN centers is also vital to put us in a position
to give customers the right advice. This is what
makes the TAN labs a USP for Merck.”
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help precisely model what auto coatings will ultimately
look like. We’re currently feeding extensive data batches
into the system and this will soon be available to certain
customers for this exclusive modeling. What makes the
program so special is that car companies will be able to
see what a given coating will look like without wasting
precious time and resources on physical prototypes.
Effekte: Finally, can you give us a success story where
a TAN center helped a customer with a particularly tricky
problem?
Dr. Lergenmüller: One instance that comes to mind is
the time a kitchen producer wanted to enhance some
of its countertops with silver pearl pigments. It soon
noticed that the effect was lost on a specific laminate.
The TAN center took samples of the laminate and used root
cause analysis (using the microscopy mentioned above) to
work out what was going wrong. With this information
the lab was able to advise the customer on the best way
to use the pigment to achieve the desired effect on the
surface.
PLASTICS
/
Seeing is believing
/
On this page: Pyrisma® T30-24 Green
On this page: Iriodin® 7225 Ultra Blue
A L R E A DY A N E X P E RT I N 3D E F F E CT S, M E RC K H A S E X PA N D E D
B E YO N D P R I N T TO A M A R K E T C RY I N G O U T F O R D E PT H A N D
P E R S P E C T I V E: P LA S T I C S. T H I S N E W D I M E N S I O N B E YO N D P U R E
P I G M E N T P RO D U CT I O N I S T H E S TA RT O F A VOYAG E I N TO
A F A S C I N A T I N G A N D I N N O V A T I V E T E C H N O L O G Y.
A N D T H E I M PACT I S A M A Z I N G.
R
emember the first time you noticed stereo music as
a kid Well try this new technology, which Merck
has now transferred into plastics to create 3
effects that will evoke a similar response the new normal
makes the old normal look pass .
Building on the amazing success of E3 virtually embossing, previously known as 3 Evolution , which lets
printed images seem to jump off the page, Merck has now
developed a new process for plastic parts. The new 3 effects created this way have incredible potential to change
the way designers and brand owners design their plastic
products. And it’ll certainly change the way we see plastic
in the future.
This new journey into Merck’s novel 3 2see technology
is a two-pronged development. Both formats are based on
in-mold decoration – the plastic manufacturing method
which involves adding special effects to plastic parts during actual production.
The first method is an entirely new way of covering thin
materials in this case, plastic films. The e truded films,
which already contain pearl luster pigments, are overmolded with a transparent synthetic resin. The tool on
the injection molding machine is already structured so
that during the overmolding process the plastic film automatically takes on this shape as with the Merck logo
on the right . The overmolded plastic mass emphasizes the
contours in the film, allowing the pearl luster pigments to
really play up the structure created by the tool. The resulting plastic parts have clear depth, 3 contours, and a shape
that boosts perception in an instant.
The other method we have now introduced to plastics is
/
46
/
basically the application of E3 technology into a standard injection molding process using pigment printed
films. The films already have a hint of 3 from E3
printing and this shows up in the plastic part. What we
have done is boost this effect, by practically sticking
a new layer on top using in-mold decoration with
printed films.
Combining mass-color plastic parts with the transparent films with 3 effects will create astonishing effects
and open up a new playground for designers.
This gives plastics manufacturers looking for novel,
e tra-depth 3 effects two new choices, each revolving
around two fundamental differences in the production
techni ue. But even if the two methods have very little
in common e cept using injection molding processes,
they both have the same immediate impact on the observer. Suddenly an otherwise standard plastic part looks
super-sophisticated and very special.
The markets and products that consumers are likely to see
these new effects used in range from furniture to automotive interiors, consumer electronics, plastic pots, caps, and
food packaging. f course, it will also be seen in cosmetics packaging, which has always looked for special effects
to underscore the uality, features, and beauty-enhancing
promise of the contents.
For designers of injection molded parts, these technologies promise to open the door to new realms of possibility
and create captivating, eye-catching effects that will bring
a smile to the face of any product manager. If the key
priority is to create product differentiation and ensure
your brand stands out, this effect literally does that.
/
PLASTICS
A quick comparison
says it all: Overmolded
extruded films containing
pearl effect pigments
make plastic parts
without these effect
pigments look bland and
uninviting.
ADDING THESE EFFECT PIGMENTS
to lms casts a whole new light on
surfaces and structures. Simple plastic
parts suddenly have clear relief, becoming
vivid and multi-dimensional. To see more
pictures or experience the magic these new
Merck technologies can work on your plastic
parts, ask your representative for more
information today.
/ 47 /
/
/
O
/
On this page: Iriodin® 7217 Ultra Copper, Pyrisma®
ne train car adorned with artwork
plus two specialists armed with cleaning agents equal the end of irrevocable
damage to railway property. How is this possible? With Merck’s magical molecules.
Merck’s introduction of polysilazane products
under the Durazane™ label has worked wonders
on the paint and coating industry. It’s a move that
gives customers like Deutsche Bahn (DB) access
to solutions that can revolutionize their property protection. A layer of Durazane™ applied as
a finishing touch to a new train car can help
keep it clean for many years to come. This
thin liquid can be sprayed or brushed over the
surface of a new train as it comes off the line.
It then hardens to form a super-smooth protective barrier, effectively closing the door on lasting graffiti damage.
On this page: Iriodin® 72 7 Ultra
success
Next stop:
That’s because with this extraordinary barrier in place, DB cleaning specialists have
a relatively easy job: document the damage,
prepare to remove the unsightly vandalism, apply the cleaning agent, and wait a short while.
Once this is done, the men in the white overalls
only need to squeegee it off the surface – and
/
48
/
presto – the train car is returned to its former
glory.
This process wasn’t always so easy and that
certainly isn’t taken for granted. In the past,
removing graffiti from train cars and other
property was an arduous task that often left
its own mark. Paint and ink used to pen-
W H E N G R A F F I T I A RT I S T S S E E T R A I N S, T H E Y S E E A C A N VA S;
T RAV E L I N G B I L L B OA R D S F O R T H E I R M A S T E R P I E C E S. W H E N
D E U T S C H E B A H N – G E R M A N Y ’ S N A T I O N A L R A I LW A Y S E R V I C E
– S E E S P RO D U CT S L I K E M E RC K’S D U RAZA N E T M, T H E Y S E E
A S U C C E S S S TO RY; T H E P OT E N T I A L TO S A F E G U A R D T H E I R
VA L U A B L E A S S E T S F RO M U N WA N T E D DA M AG E.
etrate the original train colors, so removing
it usually meant damaging the train’s finish
to some extent. With the polysilazanes applied to the surface of train cars, the graffiti pieces and tags never get the chance
to damage the original paintwork – they
simply can’t get through, making it much
easier to easily scrub them off the surface. This is an enormous cost saver for DB
because they don’t have to send their trains in
for repainting as often.
The polysilazanes also save time for customers like DB. According to Hans-Jürgen
Zanger, who is in charge of cleaning
/
49
/
er, Biflair® 66 A
/
/
regional trains in Frankfurt, their turnaround
has never been faster: “Our goal is to clean
all train graffiti within 24 to 2 hours.
His workshop keeps all regional trains looking
their best – for the comfort of their passengers
and much to the dismay of would-be graffiti artists who want to see their work on the
tracks for the long-term.
Merck is the world’s only supplier of both
organic and inorganic polysilazanes on an
industrial scale. The product portfolio is attracting global attention, as customers worldwide are interested in this mighty protection
layer, which is only 2-5 micrometers thick.
DB is just one example of the great things that
are now possible when the right chemistry is
in play – not just on train cars, but in many
areas of public infrastructure.
/
PRINT
/
Touch of luxury
W H E N I T C O M E S TO L U X U RY P RO D U C T PA C K A G I N G, T H E R E’S N O P LA C E
L I K E L U X E PAC K TO S H O W CA S E T H E I N D U S T RY ’S H OT T E S T I N N OVAT I O N S.
A N D W H E N I T CO M E S TO M E RC K’S P I G M E N T S, T H E R E’S N O A RT I S T/P R I N T E R
L I K E LO R E N Z B O E G L I TO E X P E R I M E N T W I T H D I F F E R E N T WAY S O F E VO L UT I O N I Z I N G P RO D U CT PAC KAG I N G. W E TA L K E D TO M R. B O E G L I A B O U T T H E
T R A D E S H O W A N D H I S LAT E S T F I N D I N G S W I T H M E RC K P I G M E N T S.
E
ffekte: Mr. Boegli, you exhibited LUXE PACK in Monaco
this year. Is this the most important trade show for creative packaging?
Boegli: LUXE PACK lets me mingle with the entire industry for
luxury items in Europe – from spirits to fashion, perfume, cosmetics, and much more. I estimate that only about 25% of LUXE
PACK visitors are actually interested in printing techniques.
At LUXE PACK, the visitors are decision-makers, which is why,
as a trade show, it’s such an important event for suppliers of
luxury packaging.
analyzed with a “third eye” – an eye for aesthetics – because
adding sophistication to packaging only really adds value if it’s
aesthetically right.
Effekte: What do most exhibitors expect from participating in the
trade show? Is it mainly about seeing what this sector of industry
is up to, or do they see it as a good venue for showcasing new
ideas?
Boegli: High-end customers welcome an opportunity to discover
new print effects once or twice a year. So my job is to present
two or three new effects at each LUXE PACK show. This year,
I showcased a photographic interpretation using four Merck gold
tones, which produce a shine similar to gold foil embossing.
I also presented new samples featuring RGB printing.
Effekte: Could you tell us more about the technique used to print
the portrait featured here? Which Merck products did you use
to create this print and achieve such amazing results? For what
types of applications would this printing technique be particularly suitable?
Boegli: The idea behind this print was to achieve the look of gold
foil embossing in a photographic halftone silkscreen print process, with comparable surface uniformity and the same degree
of reflection.
Effekte: What printing techniques do you see as particularly well
suited to packaging?
Boegli: For me, the key to unrivalled printing effects on packaging lies in an intelligent combination of different methods.
For e ample offset, silkscreen and embossing, or fle o, offset
and foil embossing.
By using four pigments from Merck's Iriodin® line – Sunset
Orange*, Solar Gold, Rutile Platinum Gold and Icy White – representing four gradients on the color scale, you get plenty of
light reflection in layered printing. The resulting color gradation
from bronze to white gold adds a strong 3D quality to the printed
object. Possible applications for this include shop windows with
spotlights, small-scale batches of packaging for special edition
spirits or perfumes, or different kinds of greeting cards.
Effekte: Where do you see the packaging industry at the moment? Are companies taking more of a “business as usual”
approach to packaging or do you see trends emerging that provide new impetus for the industry?
Boegli: There are so many restrictions imposed on the packaging industry, so most of the emphasis is on offset printing, but
there’s a limited amount you can do with effects in that area.
If you see dispersion and drip-off paints as refining, I believe
that just highlights limitations caused by the different
constraints of offset techniques. Effects have to be carefully
/
*which will be renamed Pyrisma® Ambercup Orange as of January 2016
50
/
Photo: Gerry Amstutz, CH-Zürich. Screen printed with Iriodin 506 Sunset Orange, Iriodin 305 Solar Gold,
Iriodin 7205 Ultra Rutil Platinum Gold and Iriodin 6103 Icy White on Fedrigoni Sirio Ultra Black 280 g/m2.
W578181
EXHIBITION CALENDAR
MASTERBATCH
CONFERENCE
ASIA 2016
PACKAGING
INNOVATIONS
Zurich
April 6-7, 2016
www.easyfairs.com
Singapore
March 8-10, 2016
www.amiplastics.com
MIDDLE EAST
COATINGS SHOW
Dubai
March 14-16, 2016
www.coatings-group.com
PHOTONICS CHINA
AMERICAN
COATINGS SHOW
Indianapolis
April 12-14, 2016
www.american-coatings-show.com
DRUPA 2016
Dusseldorf
May 31 – June 10, 2016
www.drupa.de
Shanghai
March 15-17, 2016
www.photonicschina.net
MASTERBATCH
CONFERENCE EUROPE
EUROCOAT
Paris
March 22-24, 2016
www.eurocoat-expo.com
Vienna
June 7-9, 2016
www.amiplastics.com
We provide information and advice to our customers on application technologies
and regulatory matters to the best of our knowledge and ability, but without
obligation or liability. Existing laws and regulations are to be observed in all
cases by our customers. This also applies in respect to any rights of third parties.
Our information and advice do not relieve our customers of their own responsibility for checking the suitability of our products for the envisaged purpose.
IRIODIN® 6123
ICY WHITE SATIN
PYRISMA® T30-23
BLUE
PYRISMA®
RED + BLUE
PYRISMA® T30-21
RED
PYRISMA®
RED + GREEN
PYRISMA® T30-24
GREEN
PYRISMA®
GREEN + BLUE
Imprint EFFEKTE Magazine 2|2015, December 2015
Published by: Merck KGaA, PM / Pigments & Functional Materials,
Frankfurter Str. 250, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany, tel. +49 6151 72-0;
Responsible: Dr. Michael Heckmeier; Editorial office: Maciej Kiela; Layout
and production: NUONUO Agency, Warsaw, Poland, www.nuonuo.pl;
Packshots and selected product photography: Goc Photography, Warsaw,
Poland, www.gocphotography.pl; Cover printed: screen printed with
RGB technology by Lorenz Boegli, Muentschemier, Switzerland,
www.lorenzboegli.ch; Inside pages printed: Guenter Thomas Trendhouse
42 GmbH, Gelsenkirchen, Germany, www.gt-produktion.de
CONTACT
MERCK KGaA
PIGMENTS & FUNCTIONAL
MATERIALS
Frankfurter Str. 250
64293 Darmstadt, Germany
T: +49 6151 72-0
E-mail: [email protected]
www.merck-pigments.com
EMD PERFORMANCE
MATERIALS CORP.
One International Plaza
Suite 300
Philadelphia, PA 19113, USA
T: +1 484 652-5600
www.emd-pm.com
MERCK LTD.
PERFORMANCE MATERIALS
– PIGMENTS & FUNCTIONAL
MATERIALS
Arco Tower, 5F
8–1, Shimomeguro 1-chome
Meguro ku
Tokyo 153-8927, Japan
T: +120-539-300
E-mail: [email protected]
www.merck-performance-materials.jp

coatings - Merck Performance Materials

Transcription

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