Plastics industry
Effect pigments, aluminium pigments, gold bronze pigments, vacuum metallized pigments, polychromatic pigments
The applications of metal powders and metal pigments in plastics are quite diverse. First, metal pigments are used to create effects, such as in the form of a master batch for coloring plastics, or in relief technique to create an artistic imitation of metal.
Second, the material properties of the metals are used in functional plastics, such as electrical conductivity in anti-static plastic material (e.g. flooring) or heat conductivity and high density in PTFE compounds for friction and sliding surfaces.
Relief technique
With “relief technique”, “real” metal surfaces are created for artistic or craft purposes by working metal granulate into plastic, by pouring or modeling it into the desired form, and then using mechanical processing (grinding, polishing, brushing, etc.) to reveal the metal surface. Subsequent chemical processing can also achieve antique or patina effects.