Category Archives: Tips – EN

Tinting of SPEKTRA facade paints and plasters

For the facades it is crucial to emphasize the importance of color choise. For long persistence of color we recommend to choose inorganic pigments based shades.

The pigment is the key component to determine the aesthetic of an object.
Besides the coloration of the object it provides the light and weather fastness of facade as well. Therefore the beauty of an object is kept for a longer period of time.

Light fastness: the Sun radiates the light of different wavelenghts; UV light degrades the chemical bonds in pigments, the consequence of this process is color bleeding.
Weather fastness: acid rain, SO2 and limescale cause stains or color change.
Light and weather fastness data apply to the pigment and not to the paint or colorant as semi product. Such data is provided by pigment manufacturers as a base to choose the most suitable pigment.

In HG MIX colorants the optimal light and weather fast pigments are being used.

Usually light and weather fastness tests last couple of years. The data are available for masstone and for reduction with white (usually in ratio 1:25). For the faster results we are using accelerated aging in light and weather cambers. The correlation between these two methods is very good.

Inorganic colorants (DH 1, 2, 3, 14, 20, 22, 23, 24 in 25) have high light and weather fastness also in pure, bright tones as well as in undertones.
Organic colorants (DH 4, 6, 9, 13, 15, 16 in 17) are chemical more sensible to light and weather influences over the years.

The consequences of the influences meantioned show as a bleeding of color of facade, pigment flooting and floating, mottled appearance on the surface of facade.

Organic pigments are manufactured with chemical synthesis of organic compounds, while the inoganic pigments are basically grinded minerals with chemical treated surface.
Inorganic pigment parts are bigger, with stable chemical bonds and are harded to be washed away.

Alkaline substrate can damage chemical bonds in organic pigments, they become loose and in the presence of UV light and moisture they can break and the pigment is ruined.

If we are talking about fastness of facade we must consider that the most important is the pigment. Amount of binder in wall paint and in plasters is significantly lower than in other pigmented coatings therefore the pigment is more exposed to outdoor influences which accelerates the process of degradation.

In facade paints is highly recommended to use inorganic colorants, but it is not possible to gain intensive, bright shades. We should avoid using those shades from the light and weather fastness point of view.

Colour stability depends of chemistry, crystalline modification of pigment, its size and concentration. Important role plays also porosity of system to which pigment pastes are added (silicone system for example is very porous, that is why the organic pigments are not being used). Also the surface to which the coating is being applied is of great importance (if the surface is basic like in silicate systems the use of organic pigments could lead to pigment disappearing).

On bleeding of color of facade also influences the binder itself, power of UV light, moisture amount, alkalinity, dryness of the surface, paint density and the application itself.

Due to different customer needs we offer a wide variety of facade shades, also darker ones, like orange or dark red.
But we also must warn our customers that this kind of shades will loose their intensity over the years and will start to fade.

In order to make the choise easier for our customers, a fandeck SPEKTRA Terra was made. To the color shade T 400 there are only shades made with inorganic colorants.Customers can now easier decide which color shade suits their needs best.

Dispensers and Shakers

Helios Tinting team can help you with their experience and knowledge when choosing the right mixing equipment. The choice is personalized to the customer possibilities and needs.

There are many factors, which influence on dispenser selection like type and number of colorants, colorant consumption, type of customers, possibility to widen their range, logistics, price…Dispensers can be technically divided according to type of the pump: bellow pump, piston pump and gear pump technology and they can have sequential or simultaneous dosing.

We are developing and producing different sets of colorants. Each set is tested on different dispensers with various pump technology. Therefore, we can suggest to our customer, which pump technology is best for them.

Contact us for more information.

DECORATIVE COLORANTS: HG MIX ACRYLIC & HG MIX SOLVENT

For decorative coatings we suggest automatic dispensers with bellow or piston pump. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

PRODUCER NAME PUMP Max nm. of
canisters
Canister size (L) Intended mixing
amount / day
COROB D200 below 16 2,5 upon 300 L
FAST&FLUID X Smart piston 16 2,25 upon 300 L
X Protint piston 16 12×2,3; 4X4,6 upon 300 L
HARBIL 180 piston 24 2,3 – 4,6 upon 300 L
HARBIL 480 piston 32 2 – 3 – 6 – 10 upon 500 L
SANTINT A2 piston 16 2,3 upon 300 L
HERO EURECA piston 32 3 – 5 upon 500 L

INDUSTRIAL COLORANT: UNIHEL MIX, BW MIX

For industrial colorants we recommend automatic dispensers with piston and gear technology.

PRODUCER NAME PUMP Max nm. of
canisters
Canister
size (L)
Intended mixing
amount / day
COROB EVO PWR gear 24 3 – 4 – 6 -15
9 – 20
400 – 800 L
FAST&FLUID HARBIL180 piston 24 2,3 – 4,6 upon 300 L;
smaller can
HARBIL480 piston 32 3 – 3 – 6 – 10 upon 500 L;
HARBIL680 piston 32 2 – 3 – 6 – 10 – 20 400 – 800 L;
HERO NEWTON piston 24 5 – 10 – 20 upon 800 L;
greater can
HERO EURECA piston 2,5 – 5 upon 500 L
COROB BANCO 16 – 24
COROB D200
COROB D600
F&FM HARBIL 150
CHAMELEON M2M
CHAMELEON M2M Slide door
CHAMELEON Easy Colour Manual Dispenser
CHAMELEON eShake
CHAMELEON iShake

SHAKERS & GIROSCOPIC MIXERS

Difference between shakers and mixers is in their movement. This equipment is strongly connected to the dispensers. After dosing colorants in the base, you must homogenize the paint to get desired shade.

For easier decision what is best for our customer, you can check table below.

Shaker Giroscopic mixer
Mixing range 5 – 40 cm /40 kg 8.6 – 48 cm / 40 kg
Mixing more cans at once
High viscosity product (plasters)
Can < 10L (< 22 cm)
Mixing in the storage – 20L cans

We would like to recommend:

VIBRATIONAL SHAKERS

  • SK 550
  • I shake

GYROSCOPIC MIXERS

  • GA 480
  • I mix M2M

Color matching

Formulations of different shades can be made in two different ways. They can be matched only with advanced color matching  software(mathematical formulations) or they can be further optimized and physically checked in wet paint.

In our tinting systems we are operating with bases and colorants. Bases have prefilled amount of the product in the can. Colorants amount can vary from shade to shade and from product to product. The upper limit is determinated by quality of the final product, and the lower amount determinate hiding power and dispenser precision

For color checking in the laboratory we are mostly using dispensers. For faster and more accurate color matching we are using spectrophotometers, light chambers and good matching software. Applications of the products depends on their end use (spraying, drawdowns…) We are using black-white Leneta paper, but we can also adopt the customer system if needed.

Dry sample is evaluated in the light chamber, using D65 light. Coloristical properties of the shade are always measured in the CIELab system, but the final confirmation of the recipe is always made by the experienced colorist’s eye.

The most common reasons for wrong shade:

  • Hiding power/thickness of the final product
  • Different type of the light source – metamerism problem
  • Different drying conditions
  • Differences in gloss between the target shade and our product
  • The structure of the substrate
  • Differences in the color card editions
  • Subjective influence