10/22/2020 How does Pigment Volume Concentration affect coating properties?

Effect of Pigment Volume Concentration on

Coatings Properties – Part II
Posted on August 15, 2014 by Ron Lewarchik

Introduction

In Part I of this article, expert Jochum Beetsma discussed the definition of PVC, including examples of
PVC calculations and the PVC of various types of coatings. In Part II, we will discuss Critical Pigment
Volume Concentration (CPVC), pigment oil absorption (OA), and the impact that pigment shape and
density have on coatings properties.

Critical Pigment Volume Concentration

As the PVC increases, many properties of a coating change abruptly. These changes occur at the
CPVC. CPVC can be defined as the point at which there is just sufficient binder to provide a completely
absorbed layer on the pigment surface as well as all the interstitial spaces between the pigment particles
in a close-packed system.

Diagram of Paint at CPVC

The CPVC for a pigment combination can be calculated from the oil absorption (OA) provided that the
OA value is based on a non-flocculated dispersion. OA is expressed as grams of linseed oil per 100
grams of pigment.

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ρ is the density of the pigment(s), and 93.5 is 100 times the density of linseed oil (EU). Both OA and
CPVC are expressed as percentages and not as fractions. The definitions of both OA and CPVC are
based on close-packed pigment-binder with just sufficient binder to absorb at the pigment’s surface and
fill all the interstices between the pigment particles. An example of the calculation of CPVC of a white
alkyd (EU) finish using rutile titanium dioxide (EU) with an oil absorption value of 20 (# of grams of
linseed oil/100 grams of pigment) and a pigment density of 4.2 g/cc follows:

As the pigment density and/or the OA increases, the CPVC decreases. Above the CPVC, air voids are
present (film density decreases) and below the CPVC, the pigment particles are separated. The
dramatic and abrupt change in the behavior of paint that occurs when passing through the CPVC can be
used to determine the CPVC. The abrupt changes in properties include: physical (adhesion, tensile
strength/elongation and paint density), durability (resistance to moisture, rust, moisture penetration,
blistering, wet adhesion, stain resistance), and appearance (hiding, gloss, tint strength). Other factors
that effect water and oxygen permeation include particle shape and particle size. Pigment particles vary
in size and shape. Some of the terms used to describe pigment particle structure in increasing order that
they depart from sphericity to an increasing degree are as follows:

Pigments with platelet shaped particles can reduce permeability especially if they are aligned parallel to
the coating surface. Mica (EU), micaceous iron oxide (EU) and metal flakes (EU) are a few examples of
such pigments. The smaller the average pigment particle size, the more resistant pigments are to dense
packing. For example, the dense packing factor for fine (precipitated) calcium carbonate (EU) is on the
order of half that of coarser calcium carbonate. The surface area of a unit weight of pigment varies
inversely with the particle diameter. This relationship is especially true for most pigment particles that do

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not vary greatly in shape from a sphere, nodule or rectangle. Thus, for a given weight of pigment
particles, halving the diameter doubles the surface area, and the greater the surface area for a given
pigment, the greater the vehicle demands.

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Filed Under: Paint & Coatings

Tagged With: paint, Formulating Advice

About Ron Lewarchik

Ronald J. Lewarchik, President and CEO of Chemical Dynamics, LLC,
brings 40 years of paint and coatings industry expertise to his role as a
contributing author with the Prospector Knowledge Center. As a
contributing writer, Ron pens articles on topics relevant to formulators in
the coatings industry. He also serves as a consultant for the Prospector
materials search engine, advising on issues related to optimization and organization materials
within the database.

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