Organic Pigments

Organic pigments are a class of pigments made from organic compounds, characterized by their color and a range of pigment properties such as resistance to sunlight, water immersion, acidity, alkalinity, organic solvents, heat, crystal stability, dispersibility, and opacity. Unlike dyes, organic pigments lack affinity with colored objects and must be adhered to the surface or mixed into the material internally using adhesives or film-forming substances. Their production process, including intermediates, equipment, and synthesis, is similar to that of dyes, leading to their organization within the dye industry. Compared to inorganic pigments, organic pigments generally have higher color strength, easy to grind and disperse, are less prone to sedimentation, and offer brighter colors, although they have poorer resistance to sunlight, heat, and weathering. They are widely used for coloring inks, coatings, rubber products, plastics, educational supplies, and building materials.

Inorganic Pigments

Inorganic pigments are oxides of non-ferrous metals or some insoluble metal salts. Inorganic pigments are further divided into natural inorganic pigments and synthetic inorganic pigments, with natural inorganic pigments being mineral pigments. [1]

Paints made from natural minerals or inorganic compounds. Natural mineral pigments generally have lower purity and darker colors, but are more affordable. In contrast, synthetic inorganic pigments offer a full spectrum of colors, with bright and pure hues, and excellent coverage.

Humans have been using inorganic pigments since ancient times; soot, chalk, ochre, and natural iron oxide were all used as pigments in the prehistoric era.