Colours brighten up our lives: imagine how much duller they would be without them.
Technical literature distinguishes between pigments and dyes. According to the chemical nature of the products, one differentiates between inorganic pigments or organic pigments and organic dyes. Inorganic fillers perform essential technical functions in coatings, plastics, rubber and cosmetics, whlist also contributing to surface and colour effects.
Imagine the variety of textile colours and effects produced by organic dyes of which fashion takes advantage today. That our clothing has become so cheerful is down to dyes of synthetic origin.
Today natural and artificial food colourants are used to enhance the sensoric properties of food and feed and allow the differentiation of similar-looking pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
The plastics industry entered our day-to-day life with coloured products. The huge variety of colours and effects is created by pigments and dyes. Fillers contribute to the physical stability, washability and sustainability of plastic products. Imagine the amount of carbon black that is incorporated into rubber to secure reliability and longevity for our automobiles.