3 Types of Paint Pigments
Updated: 2026
Types of Paint Pigments and Their Role in Coating Performance
Quick Answer: Paint pigments are insoluble solid particles used in coatings to provide color, opacity, hiding power, and functional effects, while final film performance also depends on the resin, solvent or water, additives, and the PU crosslinker or hardener selection.
Request TDS Request Sample Request Quotation Ask for a Suitable Grade
What are paint pigments in a coating formulation?
Paint pigments are finely dispersed solid particles that give a coating its color, opacity, hiding power, and sometimes special functions such as corrosion resistance, heat reflection, or conductivity. They never work alone: a formulation also needs a resin or binder, solvent or water, additives, and, in PU systems, a suitable crosslinker or hardener.
Dongsen does not supply pigments or finished paints. Dongsen supplies coating raw materials such as aromatic polyisocyanates, aliphatic polyisocyanate hardeners, solvent-based blocked isocyanates, waterbased isocyanates, and related PU crosslinkers used to formulate wood coatings, automotive refinish coatings, industrial coatings, can and coil coatings, and selected waterborne PU systems.
Product values in this article are typical reference data and are subject to the current TDS/COA for each grade.
What are the main types of paint pigments?
Pigments are best grouped by chemistry and function rather than by color alone, because chemistry drives dispersion, hiding power, weathering, viscosity, curing balance, and final film appearance.
| Pigment type | Common examples | Main role in coatings | Formulation notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inorganic pigments | Titanium dioxide, iron oxide, carbon black, lithopone | Opacity, whiteness, hiding power, weathering, color stability | Used when durability, heat resistance, and opacity matter. Titanium dioxide and lithopone are inorganic pigments, not organic. |
| Organic pigments | Azo, phthalocyanine, quinacridone, high-performance organic pigments | Bright color, tinting strength, clean shade, decorative appearance | Deliver high chroma, but lightfastness, solvent resistance, and heat resistance must be checked before scale-up. |
| Extender or filler pigments | Calcium carbonate, talc, kaolin, barium sulfate | Cost control, film build, sanding, gloss adjustment, mechanical balance | High loading can shift viscosity, sedimentation, opacity, and film strength; test with the full resin and hardener package. |
| Functional pigments | Anti-corrosive, conductive, heat-resistant, IR-reflective pigments | Special protection or performance beyond color | Common in industrial primers, metal coatings, and baking systems where curing conditions and crosslink density must be validated. |
Takeaway: Titanium dioxide, lithopone, iron oxide, and carbon black are inorganic pigments, while organic pigments are used mainly for high color strength and clean shade. The distinction matters because pigment chemistry changes dispersion, viscosity, weathering, and curing behavior.
How do pigments affect coating performance?
Pigments improve appearance and function, but they can also disturb a formulation if the binder, solvent, dispersant, and crosslinker are not matched. High pigment loading can raise viscosity, reduce flow, cause settling, or make the film harder to cure evenly.
| Performance factor | How pigment affects it | What formulators should check | PU crosslinker relevance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opacity and hiding power | White and inorganic pigments improve coverage and reduce visible substrate color. | Particle size, dispersion quality, pigment volume concentration, film thickness. | Weak film formation or poor crosslinking can reduce final hiding and surface uniformity. |
| Color strength and shade | Organic pigments provide bright, clean colors with strong tinting power. | Compatibility with solvent, resin, dispersant, and curing conditions. | Hardener choice affects pot life, flow, gloss, and yellowing tendency. |
| Gloss and surface appearance | Pigment and filler loading can reduce gloss or create haze if dispersion is weak. | Resin compatibility, matting package, pigment wetting, application viscosity. | In solvent-borne wood coatings, low-viscosity TDI trimers such as HDX-960E may aid flow in suitable systems. |
| Weathering and yellowing | UV resistance varies by pigment, but binder and hardener chemistry still matter. | Outdoor exposure, light-color stability, durability target. | Aliphatic HDI hardeners such as HDX-175MPX, HDX-190, or HDX-100 are preferred for non-yellowing PU. |
| Chemical resistance | Functional pigments support protection, but the polymer network controls most resistance. | Target solvent, water, stain, detergent, or industrial exposure. | Match crosslink density, NCO content, and curing condition to the application. |
| Viscosity and application | High pigment or filler loading can raise viscosity and cause poor leveling. | Spray/roller viscosity, pot life, sedimentation, storage stability. | Hardener viscosity and solids influence handling and film build. |
Takeaway: Pigments decide color and hiding power, but hardness, drying speed, chemical resistance, and durability are driven by the resin and crosslinker system. Any pigment change should be tested together with the selected PU hardener.
Which Dongsen grades match pigmented PU coating development?
In PU development, pigment choice and hardener choice go together: a white wood topcoat, a colored automotive layer, and a baked can or coil coating all use pigments but need different crosslinkers. The table below is a practical starting point, not a substitute for a TDS, MSDS, COA, or formulation test. For accurate selection, share your resin type, pigment system, solvent or waterborne medium, target gloss, curing condition, and application method.
| Dongsen grade | Chemistry | Solids | NCO / valid NCO | Viscosity | Best-fit pigmented coating direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HDX-50BA | TDI Trimer | 51±2% | 7.8±0.5% | 1000±500 cps | Fast-drying indoor 2K PU wood coatings, especially matte or pigmented furniture needing hardness and through-dry. |
| HDX-960E | TDI Trimer | 51±2% | 7.2±0.5% | 110±50 cps | Low-viscosity, high-compatibility indoor wood PU where flow and clarity are important. |
| HDX-175MPX | HDI Biuret | 75±1% | 16.5±0.5% | 210±90 cps | Non-yellowing aliphatic PU (automotive refinish, colored topcoats) needing flexibility, adhesion, weathering resistance. |
| HDX-190 | HDI Trimer | 90±1% | 19.8±0.5% | 525±75 cps | Non-yellowing aliphatic PU needing faster drying, higher hardness, and durable clear or colored film. |
| HDX-100 | HDI Trimer | 100% | 22.0±0.5% | 3250±750 cps | High-solid aliphatic PU where high crosslink density is required and viscosity can be managed. |
| DXB-3370G | Blocked HDI Trimer | 70.0±2.0% | 7.5±0.5% | 2000±1000 cps | Low-temperature 1K baking systems; deblocking 80-100 °C; standard carrier PMA. |
| DXB-3375D | Blocked HDI Trimer | 75.0±2.0% | 11.2±0.5% | 2500±1000 cps | 1K baking such as can and coil coatings; deblocking 130-140 °C; standard carrier Solvent Naphtha 100. |
| WD-8980 / WD-8780 | Water-dispersible HDI polyisocyanate | 80.0±2.0% | 15.0±1% | 300±200 cps | Waterborne 2K PU where water compatibility, gloss, and chemical resistance need evaluation. |
Takeaway: Match the crosslinker family to the system, not the pigment. Aromatic TDI trimers (HDX-50BA fast-dry matte at 51±2% solids / 7.8±0.5% NCO; HDX-960E low-viscosity at 110±50 cps) suit indoor wood; aliphatic HDI hardeners (HDX-175MPX, HDX-190, HDX-100) suit non-yellowing colored PU; blocked HDI suits 1K baking (DXB-3370G at 80-100 °C, DXB-3375D at 130-140 °C); WD-8980 / WD-8780 (80.0±2.0% solids, 15.0±1% NCO) suits waterborne 2K. All values are typical and subject to the current TDS/COA.
What formulation data should buyers share before asking for a grade?
A request like "we need a hardener for a colored coating" is too broad to answer well. Share these together so pigment, resin, and curing are matched: coating application and substrate; resin or binder type (hydroxyl acrylic, polyester polyol, waterborne dispersion, or baking resin); pigment type and approximate loading; solvent or waterborne medium; curing condition (room-temperature 2K or 1K baking); and target film properties such as gloss, hardness, flexibility, chemical resistance, weathering, and drying speed. The inquiry form below uses the same checklist.
Related Dongsen solutions for pigment-containing coating systems
For buyers comparing pigment performance with coating film performance, these related pages are useful starting points:
- Polyisocyanate crosslinkers and curing agents for PU coatings
- Aromatic isocyanate hardeners for indoor wood coating systems
- Aliphatic polyisocyanate hardeners for non-yellowing PU coatings
- Solvent-based blocked isocyanates for baking coatings
- PU coating raw material solutions for wood and furniture
- Automotive OEM and refinish coating raw material direction
- Can and coil coating crosslinker direction
- Solvents in paints and coatings
- Types of additives in paints
- Coating formulation resin and binder guide
Key takeaways
- Paint pigments provide color, opacity, hiding power, and functional effects, but they do not determine final coating performance alone.
- Titanium dioxide, lithopone, iron oxide, and carbon black are inorganic pigments, not organic ones.
- Organic pigments give bright color and high tinting strength, but lightfastness, solvent resistance, and heat resistance must be tested.
- In PU systems, pigment choice should be tested together with resin, medium, additives, and crosslinker selection.
- Dongsen supplies PU crosslinker raw materials, not pigments or finished paints; suitable grades follow after checking application, resin, pigment loading, curing condition, and target film properties.
About Dongsen
Dongsen is a chemical coating raw material manufacturer based in Shaoguan, China, supplying polyisocyanate hardeners, blocked isocyanates, moisture-curing polyisocyanates, waterbased polyisocyanates, and related PU crosslinker raw materials for professional coating and adhesive formulators. For compliance-sensitive projects, request the current TDS, MSDS, COA, and available regulatory information before bulk evaluation.
Need help matching pigments with a PU hardener?
Share your pigment type, resin system, solvent or waterborne medium, application method, curing condition, and target film properties. Dongsen can help you review whether an aromatic, aliphatic, blocked, moisture-curing, or waterbased polyisocyanate direction fits your formulation test.
Request TDS Request Sample Request Quotation Go to Inquiry Form
Send Your Requirement
To request a suitable grade, please include:
- ✅ Coating application and substrate
- ✅ Resin or binder type
- ✅ Pigment type and approximate loading
- ✅ Solvent or waterborne medium
- ✅ Curing condition, target gloss, hardness, and drying speed
FAQ
What are paint pigments?
Paint pigments are insoluble solid particles dispersed in a coating to provide color, opacity, hiding power, or special functions. They must be matched with the binder, medium, additives, and curing package.
Are titanium dioxide and lithopone organic pigments?
No. Titanium dioxide and lithopone are inorganic pigments. They are discussed with white pigments and opacity, while organic pigments relate to bright color and strong tinting strength.
Do pigments affect PU hardener selection?
Yes. Pigment chemistry and loading change viscosity, flow, surface appearance, drying, and curing balance. A heavily pigmented PU coating should be tested with the exact resin and hardener system before scale-up.
Which Dongsen grades suit pigmented wood coatings?
For indoor solvent-borne 2K PU wood coatings, HDX-50BA and HDX-960E are common starting directions: HDX-50BA for fast-drying matte systems, HDX-960E for lower-viscosity, high-compatibility systems.
Which Dongsen grades suit non-yellowing colored PU coatings?
Aliphatic HDI hardeners such as HDX-175MPX, HDX-190, and HDX-100 are better starting directions when non-yellowing performance and weathering resistance are required.
Which Dongsen grades suit pigmented baking systems?
Blocked isocyanates such as DXB-3370G and DXB-3375D suit 1K baking systems: DXB-3370G for 80-100 °C low-temperature deblocking, DXB-3375D for 130-140 °C baking.
Does Dongsen sell pigments or finished paints?
No. Dongsen supplies PU crosslinker and hardener raw materials, not pigments or finished paints. Professional formulators use Dongsen crosslinkers to develop coating and adhesive systems after proper testing.