How does particle size affect a pigment’s dispersibility?
The color of a given pigment is determined by its particle size and shape. However, pigments are usually found as clusters of particles rather than individuals. These pigment clusters influence the tinting strength and grind that a given pigment can achieve. The particles in the clusters are held together by many different mechanisms. The most common of these is the soluble material that cemented pigment particles together in the drying process. Another mechanism is the presence of electrical charges between individual particles. As pigment particles become smaller in size, decreasing in surface area, the strength of the electrical charge increases, making the pigment more difficult to disperse. Pigment manufacturers, such as Hoover Color, can vary the dispersibility of a pigment by different grinding processes which break down these pigment clusters into smaller clusters and particles. Often the terms Atomized, Micronized or Jet-Milled are used to describe pigments that have undergone
