Merck launches new generation pigments
Pharmaceutical and chemical firm Merck Ltd. has launched a new generation of effect pigments for the auto sector in India.
The new 'Meoxal' effect pigments show improved colour saturation and performance thanks to its layer technology and the use of aluminium flakes as substrate layers.
"With Meoxal, we are setting a further milestone in pigment technology. This range will enable us to continue to support our customers in the development of new and innovative coatings," Merck Regional Sales Director Asia (Decoratives) Siddhartha Sengupta told reporters here.
One of the first pigments under the new brand name, Meoxal, is Wahiba Orange – named after the famous Wahiba Sands, a desert region in Oman. Inspired by the timeless, fascinating beauty of this desert, it adds saturated red, orange and brown tones to the styling spectrum.
Like all pigments in the new product series, Meoxal Wahiba Orange has a specially treated surface. Thanks to this special CWT ("Carbitol and Weather Treatment") surface treatment, Meoxal Wahiba Orange is suitable for innumerable high performance applications – especially for automotive and plastic coatings as well as for other demanding exterior applications. Using the new pigment in waterborne coating systems is particularly straightforward because no additional passivation is needed.
"Wahiba Orange is the first in this range that we are bringing to India and we are confident that it will be well received by the auto and plastic coatings industry," Sengupta said.
The company's earlier products include Iriodin (1980s) and Xirallic (1990s).
Meoxal is a result of continuous research to develop new pigment technologies at Merck. The effect pigments are a combination of well-known substrate layering with metal oxides, new flake technology and innovative, patented intermediate layering know-how.