BEST PRACTICES FOR COLOR FORMULATION IN PAINT

Companies can: * Improve quality by quantifying the color of the product; * Use data to evaluate trends in production; * Improve quality control of incoming raw materials; * Reduce cost with waste due to off-color batches; * Reduce colorant inventory by incorporating a standardized colorant set; * Enhance productivity by getting to the acceptable color quicker, getting verification of customer requirements and streamlining production. Color Measurement There are a variety of factors involved when measuring color (Figure 3), which include: * Optical/measurement geometry d/8 (sphere-based illumination) 45/0(directional illumination). * Standard illuminants D65 A F11 * Observer 2 degree 10 degree * Color space, such as Hunter L, a, b CIE L· a·, b· L· C· h· * Color difference equations and tolerancing, such as DE·abDE·94 DE·00 CMC * Sample preparation and presentation methods, such as Same substrate material; Averaging measurement, and if so, how many Visual Evaluation For visual evaluation, the following parameters should be considered: * Light booth type and model, for example GTI CMB-2540; * Viewing angle: Some best practices include: * Maintain your equipment to ensure it is in proper working condition. * To ensure consistency, monitor the strength of incoming pigments or dyes. * Establish appropriate weighing methods for pigments, substrates, dyes or auxiliaries. * Calibrate color measurement instruments and weighing scales at scheduled times for accuracy and optimum performance. * Maintain the lightbox used for visual evaluations with lamp replacement. * Specify a fixed room temperature to avoid causing a drift in the color of your samples. * Standardize procedures from the start to end, which includes the creation of samples for measurement, mixing samples, the flash time after mixture and oven temperature, and time for drying.