To the average person the word concrete often invokes the idea of cold, sterile, and grey. It isn&#;t hard to see why. Typically the concrete one encounters tends to be utilitarian material for sidewalks or bridges where aesthetics takes a back seat to function and cost. The expanding interest in decorative concrete is starting to challenge this concept however, transforming from a cold mass buried under the ground into inviting decorative surfaces for showing off to guests. Interest in customized concrete grows, so does the desire for greater variety of colors.
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Pigment selection, the type of cement, aggregate size and color, water content, mixing technique and finishing methods all have a role to play in the overall final appearance of the decorative concrete surface. Cement color is the starting point and the determining factor in what range of colors can be achieved.
White cement provides a greater range of color possibilities and should be considered for bright and vibrant colors. White cement also yields greater reproducibility and consistency of color. For maximum brightness, particularly in the light pastel shades, white cement and the whitest aggregates should be used. Grey cements can vary greatly between suppliers, from batch to batch, and green undertones can alter the final appearance of the desired color. Given the higher levels of iron and other impurities in grey cement, the color selection is limited to muted earthy tones.
Typically there are two gradations of aggregates in a concrete product. Coarse, consisting of gravel, crushed stone, pumice, expanded shale, slag or limestone. Fine, consisting of silica sand, rock dust or manufactured stone sand. Aggregate color and size will impact the appearance of decorative concrete. This impact is directly related to the degree of exposure of the final concrete surface. A heavily exposed coarse aggregate will detract for the concrete color and the human eye will typically see the aggregate color.
Water not only makes a concrete mix workable, but also enters into chemical combination with the cement. The quantity of water used in a mix controls to a large degree the durability, strength and water tightness of a concrete product. The higher the water content of the mix, the lighter the color. Control of the water/cement ratio is vital for consistent color from batch to batch.
These are factors beyond the pigment that can play a role in the final appearance of the product. Pigments used in concrete can be used individually or mixed to achieve a desired color, but one must have an idea of how the pigments behave in particular mixes in order to achieve a good match.
Pigments are insoluble particles that absorb certain wavelengths of light while reflecting other wavelengths allowing colors to be observed. The shape and size of pigment particles plays an important role in light reflection. Pigment particles can be spherical, rod shaped, plate-like, or irregular depending on individual chemistries. The shape can alter the rheology of the material and can have an impact on the water demand in some cases. It is important to test a pigment in a smaller sample in order to make necessary adjustments.
Hydrated cement, by its nature, is a harsh chemical environment for most materials, and for pigments specifically. Care must be taken to choose pigments that can survive the chemical reactions as the concrete cures since pigment becomes incorporated into the concrete matrix. Post cure, the pigments must survive long term UV exposure.
More on Dyes, Stains & Pigments
What is the Difference Between Concrete Dyes, Stains and Pigments? Understanding the difference between concrete dyes, stains and pigments is essential when deciding which to use for colored concrete. Use this high value asset infographic to make the correct decision. Download this free infographic.
The industry standard for integral color in concrete, ASTM C979, spells out requirements and test procedure for pigments used in concrete and specifies inorganic pigments as the preferred pigment of choice. Inorganic pigments are chemically stable, and typically won&#;t have adverse effects on the concrete as long as used within recommended ranges, typically less than 10 percent of the cement content by weight. Synthetic iron oxide pigments are inexpensive and there is a wide enough variety to achieve many desired earth tone colors. Naturally occurring ochres and umbers contain iron oxide along with other minerals and also produce unique shades of assorted earth tones. Chromium oxide provides a stable green pigment. Titanium dioxide is useful for achieving light colors, whites, as well as making light grey when used in grey cement. Cobalt oxides allow for various blues and teals but can also be more expensive than other oxide based pigments.
Breaking the color barrier for concrete is achieved by using organic pigments in combination with inorganic pigments. Organic pigments are brighter, much stronger, and cleaner than the oxides and thus can help achieve deeper colors than with oxides alone. Organic pigments can affect water demand and cure time, among other side effects. Carbon black is one of the most common organic pigments used in concrete, and there are limits to its use. Copper phthalocyanine pigments offer various shades of blue and green. Research is constantly underway to find suitable organic pigments for use in concrete. The use of these pigments requires some expertise and many new chemistries have been developed since the implementation of ASTM C979. There are now bright yellows, reds, and violets on the market that can expand the possibilities of concrete color.
Controlling color in concrete requires an understanding of the amount of cementitious material in the mix. Cement and pozzolans combine to form the total cementitious binder or TCB. The amount of pigment required to achieve a given color is referred to as the &#;loading rate.&#; Multiplying the TCB by the loading rate produces the amount of pigment necessary for the job.
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Formulating a color can be as straightforward as making samples of a single pigment at different loading rates until the desired shade is matched or it can be complex blend of pigments in order to achieve a very specific look. Generating a custom color palette can be a process of mixing primary colors together to create a handful of unique colors. Matching a specific color precisely can be a quite complex, often involving multiple attempts to dial in the exact shade required. This can be a time consuming process often involving significant amounts of raw materials. One of the key areas of focus at Delta Performance Products is to provide custom color matching and blending, thus taking the guesswork out of the equation. A physical sample or paint name or number is often all that&#;s required to get an accurate color match.
Rather than relying on the trial and error approach, Delta has the experience and resources to optimize color matching. Technology is a helpful aid in the color matching process, primarily relying on the spectrophotometer. This piece of equipment reflects light off a sample and translates the data into a three dimensional graph allowing a more objective analysis of color. This graph allows easy comparison between a sample to match and the sample being tested allowing precise adjustments to be made to the formula. Consistency in the mixing process is also key to successful color formulation. In order to achieve reproducible results, measurements must be made on accurate scales and the mixing must be done in a way that reduces human error. Verifying colors under a light booth with different light sources is also a key step in the color process due to the phenomenon of metamerism in which colors vary based on lighting conditions.
As interest grows in decorative concrete there will be a corresponding increase in the interest of concrete color. Understanding the available technology will be an important part of maintaining customer satisfaction as color becomes a more important aspect of the concrete industry.
The global iron oxide market is anticipated to reach a value of US$ 3,775 Mn in , with the market growing at an average CAGR of 4.1% from the forecast period of to . Driven by escalating consumption in paints & coatings, plastic manufacturing, and construction industries, the iron oxide market is expected to reach an estimated US$ 2,525.85 Mn in . Textiles, ceramics, and other end-use industries are also contributing to the growing demand for iron oxide in the global market.
The continuous urbanization process occurring all over the world as well as the rapidly expanding construction industry and increasing investment in infrastructure development amplify the consumption of iron oxides in the forthcoming years.Characteristics like superior chemical stability, dispersibility, and high thermal stability, further augment the demand of iron oxides in the paints & coatings and construction industries.
An inorganic pigment with excellent properties like good resistance to UV rays, high thermal stability, and high dispersibility promote iron oxides&#; use the development of numerous construction materials such as cobblestone, roof tiles, floor tiles, and concrete. It has a remarkable chemical structure that is insoluble in water and immune to acids & alkalinity of cement and lime. The rising construction activities, particularly in emerging economies, will likely aid the market growth of iron oxides in the following decade. Different construction firms are embracing green construction projects to create sustainability. This stimulates opportunities for iron oxide as it is an environmentally friendly raw material that is used for construction activities. These factors are driving the sales of the product in the global market during -.
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The unique ability of iron oxide to absorb ultraviolet radiation, stop the degradation of base material, its inexpensiveness, high purity, strong thermal stability, and good compatibility with other ingredients are factors that promote the adoption of iron oxide in various industrial verticals. Iron oxide also has a great concealing power, impermeability to UV rays, water solubility along with great adhesive quality and anti-rust properties. This increases the robustness of paint films and ensures the product&#;s usage in a variety of outdoor paint applications.
&#;Rising usage of iron oxide in paint & coatings, construction & buildings are driving the global market expansion of iron oxide market over the forecast period,&#; says an FMI analyst.
Key Takeaways:
Competitive Landscape
Lanxess AG, Huntsman International LLC, Cathey Industries, Toda Kogyo Corporation, Alabama Pigments Company, LLC, Jiangsu Yuxing Industry and Trade Co. Ltd., Golccha Pigments Pvt. Ltd., Shenghua Group Deqing Huayuan Pigment Co. Ltd., Tata Pigments Company, Yaroslavsky Pigment Company, and Hunan Three-Ring Pigments Co. Ltd among others are some of the major players in the iron oxide market profiled in the full version of the report.
Leading market players are interested in developing new formulations of iron oxides as well as producing and developing more sustainable iron oxide solutions. Some other enterprises are focusing on manufacturing different grades of iron oxide and expand their production capacity to cater to a large consumer base and strengthen their market presence.
More Insights into Iron Oxide Market Report
In its latest report, FMI offers an unbiased analysis of the global iron oxide market, providing historical data from to and forecast statistics for to . To understand the global market potential, growth, and scope, the market is segmented based on product type (red, yellow, black, brown, orange, green, other blends), application (construction, paint & coatings, plastics, chemicals, paper & pulp manufacturing, textile, ceramics, leather, other (fertilizer, cosmetics, rubber)), and region.
According to the latest FMI reports, based on region, the iron oxide market in the U.S. is expected to present substantial growth over the forecast period. The market in this country is likely to grow at a very fast pace. Heightened demand for the product in paints & coatings, plastics, and construction are propelling the market growth in this region. With steady rise in residential construction activities, the demand for iron oxide is likely to escalate in the U.S. during the upcoming decade. Germany, too, will experience notable growth in the target market owing to the surging sales of synthetic iron oxide pigments which are in high demand in the plastic industry.
Based on segmentation, by product type, the red powdered iron oxide will register high demand in the global space over the forecast period.
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