BASF presents its new Sicopal® Orange K 2430. This new, extraordinarily stable inorganic mixed oxide is well-suited for areas of application in which many organic pigments fail, including those where high UV resistance and weathering resistance are required or where there is a need to withstand aggressive chemicals and high temperatures Sicopal Orange K 2430 sets new standards in numerous aspects. The pigment is suitable for use in a wide array of technically relevant plastics, ranging from polyolefins to PVC and PS all the way to ABS, PC, PET, PBT and PA. In particular, it is stable even at temperatures above 320 degrees Celsius [608 degrees Fahrenheit], and is thus resistant under the processing conditions of all known plastics. Moreover, it can replace often employed products containing cadmium and lead. This pigment is also very attractive from the standpoint of processing technology: it is easy to disperse, that is to say, it can be distributed very evenly and quickly throughout the polymeric matrix. This is conducive to the production of films and fibers that are free of gel particles. Thin-walled molded parts such as housings and covers come out of the mold without displaying any warpage, in other words, with high dimensional stability. Furthermore, Sicopal Orange K 2430 does not exhibit any tendency to migrate and has been approved in the European Union for food packaging and for use in toys; an application for FDA approval has been submitted. This material can also add coloristic strength to pigment mixtures. Organic colorants such as, for example, Cromophthal® Orange GP or BASF’s Paliogen® Red K 3580 only acquire greater covering capacity and are more brilliant that conventional mixtures when combined with Sicopal Orange. It also entails advantages in combination with other inorganic pigments; for example, it serves to expand the color space of chromium titanates far into the orange range. The outstanding UV-resistance and weathering resistance of this pigment accounts for constant and high levels of fastness, even at low concentrations and in mixtures with titanium oxide. Color-matching tests confirm that pigment formulations containing Sicopal Orange retain their defined color practically indefinitely when exposed to weathering. Comparable levels of fastness cannot be achieved through a combination with organic pigments.
