Industrial pigment approval should be based on the final formulation and process, not on shade or price alone. This checklist helps purchasing, laboratory and quality teams collect comparable information before requesting samples and moving to a production trial.
1. Define the application before comparing grades
Record the resin or binder, processing temperature, target shade, opacity or transparency, indoor or outdoor use, required fastness and destination market. For plastics, include the polymer and additive package. For coatings and inks, include the binder, solvent or water system, cure conditions and dispersion equipment.
2. Request comparable technical documents
Ask each candidate supplier for the current TDS, SDS, a representative COA format and any declarations required by the destination market. Confirm the exact C.I. name and supplier grade on every document. A logo or certificate image should not replace a product-specific document review.
3. Use one sample brief
Send every supplier the same application brief and target. Label samples with supplier, grade, batch, received date and test code. Keep an untouched reference sample and record storage conditions.
| Evaluation area | What to record | Typical evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | C.I. name, grade and batch | TDS, SDS and sample label |
| Color | Full shade, tint shade and strength | Drawdown, molded plaque or print |
| Processing | Dispersion, viscosity and heat behavior | Laboratory test record |
| Durability | Light, weather, solvent or migration result | Application-specific test |
| Supply | Packaging, lead time and lot consistency | Quotation and COA format |
4. Test the failure mode that matters
A coating pigment may need dispersion, gloss, overcoating and weather tests. A plastics pigment may need heat stability, migration and warpage checks. An ink pigment may need viscosity, transparency, strength and solvent resistance. Use the real resin, equipment and process window whenever possible.
5. Compare results with a decision table
Define pass/fail limits before testing. Separate essential requirements from preferences and record deviations. Do not average away a critical failure such as unacceptable migration, shade change or missing documentation.
6. Confirm the commercial sample before bulk approval
After the laboratory shortlist, confirm specification, packaging, quoted grade, lead time and document set. Keep the approved sample and test report as the purchasing reference for the first bulk lot.
Fortune Chem is a pigment manufacturer and exporter for coatings, printing inks and plastics. Buyers can send the application, target shade, processing conditions and required documents through the contact page to request a technical shortlist and samples.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which documents should be requested with an industrial pigment sample?
Request the current TDS, SDS, a representative COA format and any product or destination-market declarations needed for the project.
Can supplier data replace testing in the final formulation?
No. Supplier data supports preselection, but approval should be based on testing in the actual resin, process and service conditions.
How should pigment samples be compared fairly?
Use the same written brief, formulation, equipment, test conditions and evaluation limits for every candidate grade.
