pigmentet

Pigmentet is a substance that imparts color to another material by selectively absorbing certain wavelengths of light and reflecting or scattering others. Unlike dyes, pigmentet is typically insoluble and consists of solid particles that are dispersed in a medium.

Pigmentet is classified by composition into inorganic pigments (iron oxides, titanium dioxide), earth pigments (ochres, siennas, umbers), and synthetic inorganic pigments. Organic pigments—often bright and highly chromatic—include phthalocyanine blues and greens and quinacridone reds. There are also specialty pigments such as pearlescent or metallic pigments. The properties of pigmentet depend on particle size, shape, and how well the particles disperse in the medium, influencing color strength, opacity, and gloss.

Key properties include color (hue), saturation (chroma), opacity or transparency, lightfastness (resistance to fading under light), heat stability, and chemical resistance. The term pigmentet also covers the tendency to form stable dispersions and to resist settling or clumping in the medium.

Common applications are paints and coatings, plastics, inks, cosmetics, and some food colorants. Regulations govern the use of certain pigments due to toxicity (for example, cadmium or lead compounds) or impurities. Production methods include precipitation, milling, and grinding to create fine pigment particles that remain suspended in binders.

Historically, pigments were obtained from minerals, earths, charcoal, and natural dyes. The development of synthetic pigments in the 19th and 20th centuries greatly expanded color ranges and stability, influencing art, industry, and science. Color science studies pigmentet properties to achieve consistent hues across media.