Pigmenting Design-Cast 66

DESIGN-CAST 66 can be integrally pigmented to brilliant or soft colors. When pigments are property chosen, the colors are light-fast and weather-stable, and the castings retain their full strength and other qualities.

In general, pigments that are suitable for use in concrete (i.e. pure dry oxide-type pigments containing no additives) work well in DESIGN-CAST. Also, other pigments which can not be used in concrete because of concrete's highly alkaline nature are suitable for DESIGN-CAST 66.

Recommended Pigment Types

• Iron oxides: reds, yellows, browns, blacks, earth-tones, terra cottas
• Cadmium sulfides and selenides: brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows
• Chromium greens
• Titanium oxide white
• Colored oxides used in ceramic glazes
• Certain metallic powders: bronze, copper, and stainless steel.

CAUTION: DO NOT USE ALUMINUM POWDER OR FLAKE! ALUMINUM REACTS WITH DESIGN-CAST MIXES!

Pigmenting Guidelines

All pigments should be pure, dry powders—not liquid dispersions or mixtures of pigments with other unknown fillers.

In general, don't use more than 5% by weight of pigment, based on the weight of DESIGN-CAST dry mix. Exceptions are the metallic powders, which may be used up to 100% of the weight of DC-66 dry mix.

Pigments may be used both in fiberglass-reinforced mixes, and also in mixes which are aggregated.

For a uniform pastel color, use a mixture of 2 to 4 parts of titanium oxide white, plus one or more colored pigments, to produce the desired tint.

If you are not sure whether a pigment is compatible, try it out first in a small mix. If the DESIGN-CAST then sets either too slowly or too quickly, the pigment is not compatible and should not be used. Also, if the DESIGN-CAST mix becomes too stiff to work with when you add the pigment, do not use the pigment unless you can thin out the mix adequately by the addition of a SMALL amount of water.

Pigments may be added at any stage of mixing. The easiest way to add the pigment is to first dry blend it roughly with the dry mix; then add the pigmented dry mix to the polymer/water mixture and mix as instructed in the Mixing Procedure described earlier in this documentation.