LUMENTIFY
The basic rule: coarser glows brighter, finer processes better
Coarser pigments glow brighter. Finer grades can be applied thinner and smoother, are easier to process and give smoother surfaces – but glow somewhat less. Choosing the right particle size is therefore always a trade-off between brightness and processing.
Particle sizes at a glance
| Particle size | What it is | Typical for |
|---|---|---|
| 1–5 µm | Special range: grades usually start at 5 µm – thanks to special production techniques we offer down to 1 µm | very fine, thin layers and smooth surfaces |
| below 20 µm | target range for textile and screen printing – fine enough for screen and print | textile and screen printing, fine print applications |
| 20–30 µm | Range of most tinted pigments | coloured effects in coatings, resins and paints |
| 60–80 µm | The bright, untinted glow pigments in natural green, blue-green and blue | high brightness with good processability |
| 150 µm | Our coarsest pigment grade – glows brightest | maximum brightness where the grain size allows; too coarse for many applications |
| up to 1 mm | Glow granules of pure strontium aluminate | surfaces, casting and embedding – visible as individual grains |
| from 4 mm | Glow stones of resin and pigment | paths, decor, embedding in resin or concrete surfaces |
In principle we can produce almost any particle size. The table shows the typical ranges – intermediate sizes are matched to your application.
Which particle size for which application?
Coatings and paints
Film thickness is decisive: a particle thicker than the planned layer sticks out of the surface. Fine grades are the right choice for thin, smooth lacquer layers; thicker coatings and floor markings can take coarser grades, which glow brighter.
Plastics and masterbatch
We match particle size and dosing form to your compounding or dosing equipment. For plastics processing, the temperature rule also applies: from approx. 150 °C, use only untinted pigments.
Resins and silicone
Coarser pigments glow brighter but also settle faster in low-viscosity resin. Let the resin start to gel or thicken it before stirring in the pigment – or add coarse pigment or granules specifically to a top layer.
3D printing
For filaments and resins, finer grades are easier to process and give smoother surfaces. We match the particle size to the nozzle, layer height and printing process.
In practiceStart with the coarsest grade your process and surface allow – that gives the most brightness. Which one that is, we clarify together through sampling.