Pearlescent PigmentsWhat are Pearlescent PigmentsSince antiquity Mankind has been fascinated with the graceful Lustre of pearls. A Pearl’s Lustre appears as How do Pearlescent Pigments come about?Pearlescent pigments consist of mica platelets coated with a thin layer of metallic oxide. This simple structure forms the basis of most pearlescent pigments; however a wide variety of different types is created by varying the size of the individual platelets, the thickness and number of layers, the refractive index of each layer and any dyes or other colours which may be embedded in the layers. White light striking a multilayer pearlescent pigment, some is reflected at the surface producing a phase shift of half a wavelength. The rest of the light passes through the metallic cladding layer and some is again reflected at the surface of the mica. It emerges from the pigment parallel to the first reflected component, but with a different phase relationship that depends on how much further it had to travel through the layer. As the thickness of the layer increases, the reflected colour changes from silver-white, to yellow, red and blue, to green while the complementary colour is transmitted. For example if the colour green is reflected the transmitted colour is red. Depending on the angle at which the light entered the layer and the wavelength of the light so if the two reflected components are 'in phase' they will appear bright, but colours which are 'out of phase' will be suppressed by interference. This type of pearlescent pigments is called Interference. If you are interested in our pearlescent pigments or need more information about these products, visit Pritty Pearlescent Pigments for more information.
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a three dimensional blush from deep inside an object and is perceived to be beautiful and precious.