Development of High-performance Inorganic Pigment and Lacquer Pastes for UV-Curable Coating Systems

Abstract

This work presents an optimized formulation strategy for UV-curable pigment pastes based on seven inorganic pigments and six lacquers for nail coating systems. The composition was systematically adjusted by varying the monomer–oligomer ratio, pigment loading, and dispersant concentration. Dispersion efficiency was assessed through wetting tests, controlled mixing and three-roll milling. Final performance was characterized by viscosity, grind value and opacity measurements. Viscosity increased with oligomer content and pigment concentration, while dispersant 1 substantially reduced viscosity and enabled stable formulations at practical pigment loadings. Three-roll milling at 20/10 μm roll gaps and 160 rpm improved opacity (ΔOP = 12.81%), confirming the need for high shear energy to achieve efficient deagglomeration. The results establish a practical parameter set for producing UV-compatible inorganic and lacquer pigment pastes with viscosities suitable for automated manufacturing.