Pigmentide

Pigmentide, the Estonian term for pigments, are substances that impart color to materials by selective light absorption and scattering. They are generally insoluble, existing as particles dispersed in a binder or matrix rather than dissolving. This makes them suitable for paints, plastics, inks, cosmetics, and coatings, where durable color and opacity are important. Pigmentide can be naturally occurring or synthetic and are widely classified as inorganic or organic.

Inorganic pigments include iron oxides (red, yellow, brown, black), titanium dioxide (white), chromium oxide green, and ultramarine. Organic pigments are carbon-based compounds such as azo, phthalocyanine, and quinacridone families, as well as carbon black. Natural pigments come from minerals or plants (ochre, umber, malachite, and plant extracts). Some pigments are specialty varieties, including pearlescent, interference, and fluorescent types, each with distinctive optical effects.

Key properties are hue, tinting strength, opacity or transparency, and lightfastness, as well as dispersion stability and particle size. Performance is also influenced by chemical resistance to heat, solvents, and weathering. Certain pigments may pose health or environmental risks and are subject to regulation; heavy-metal-containing pigments are restricted for specific uses.

Pigmentide are produced by extraction from natural sources or by chemical synthesis, enabling a wide range of colors and properties. They contrast with dyes, which are soluble in their medium; pigments form a dispersed solid phase and impart color without relying on solubility.

Producing and using pigmentide is subject to safety and environmental regulation; frameworks such as REACH govern many pigments in the European Union, and food, cosmetic, and medical uses require product-specific approvals and limits.