ULTRASONIC DISPERSION OF PIGMENT IN WATER BASED PAINTS

The best known chemical effect of ultrasonic energy is doubtlessly its ability to break up solid particles present in liquids, as in an ultrasonic cleaning process. The effect is achieved by the cavitation produced by the sound energy. This phenomenon is recognized and used to prepare a fine paint suspension by dispersing the pigment particles in the pre-mix solutions. Judicious selection of external conditions, frequency, intensity, duration of exposure, viscosity, additive, etc., permit a sharp increase in the efficiency of the ultrasonic dispersion process. A series of latex paint formulations have been prepared in a beaker comparing the properties of the finished paints with those made by the conventional mixing process.