Interference Pearlescent Pigments

The pigments with fine particle size can be used to achieve unique pearl or marble effects.

• Use our Interference Pearlescent Pigments to create marble and pearl effects in resin. The effects differ from those created by our Colour Pearlescent pigments which create metallic effects. The translucent nature of Interference Pigments allows depth to be created in resin.
• Strong pearl colours can be achieved by applying very small amounts of these pigments over black. In resin this can be achieved by adding minute amounts of pigment to resin that is applied in a thin layer over a black background. 
• Higher amounts of pigment and/or thicker resin layers give a beautiful subtle colour that looks like marble or pearl (depending on how you use them).
• It may sound strange that lower amounts of of pigments and thinner layers give a stronger colour but remember that this is only the case over a black background. In all other conditions the effect of the fine pigments is one of a subtle colour marble or pearl appearance.

Medium and Large Size Pigments

• As particle size increases, the effect becomes more of a sparkle effect and less of a colour effect. Larger particles create more of a translucent effect with subtle sparkle. 
• A downside of larger particles is that they have more tendency to settle in high flow (low viscosity) resins during curing. To counter this, they can be used in a thin top resin layer or in a thin layer of higher viscosity resin such as our Counter Top Epoxy Resin. 

Interference Pearlescent Pigments vs. Colour Pearlescent Pigments

All pearlescent pigments get their colour and other visible effects by reflecting and refracting light. Reflection is light bouncing off the particle surface while refraction is light passing through the particle and being bent and changed as it does so. Light that passes through the particles changes wavelength and thus colour.

In our “Colour Pearlescent Pigments” all the pigments have quite a strong colour and are not very transparent. They generate beautiful metallic colour effects primarily by reflection of light. 

In our Interference Pearlescent Pigment range all the pigments have a subtle colour with a high level of transparency. They tend to "play with light" and generate colour through refraction. They don’t contain any coloured material in their composition but manipulate light to give the perception of colour. A pile of powder of these pigments looks white but smearing these pigments out over a glossy black surface readily demonstrates the awesome effect they can create.

We have seen on some website that these pigments are sold as 'colour shift pigments' (presumably because they look different when over white to when over black). Colour Shift Pigments (also called Chameleon Pigments) are very different and a lot more expensive. 

Mica, Synthetic Mica and Glass as a base for Pearlescent Pigments

Pearlescent pigments are created on a transparent base material. Mica naturally has platy shaped, transparent particles and has been the traditional base used during the manufacture of pearlescent pigments. Synthetic (man-made) mica has been replacing natural mica in many pearlescent pigments as it is more transparent and has a more uniform particle size. Synthetic mica is, however, more expensive. Glass is regarded as the ultimate base for pearlescent pigments as it is even more transparent than synthetic mica. 

As particle size increases it become more essential for particles to have a more transparent base. For this reason our fine interference pigments are based on natural mica, our medium pigments are based on synthetic mica and our XL pigments are based on glass. This is a major reasons why the larger particle size pigments are significantly more expensive. Fortunately with the larger particle sizes only a very small amount is required to create a sparkle effect which is why we sell them in 10g units. For the absolute ultimate sparkle effect please see a different product called "Cosmetic Diamond Pearlescent Pigments". 

We now have a very interesting product called "Cosmetic Mica Based Glitter". This can be regarded as a 'Plastic Free Glitter' or as an XXL Pearlescent Pigment (it is based on synthetic mica).