EDISON, NJ—A new technical update from Ferro Corporation, Liquid Coatings and Dispersions Division, compares the latest in liquid color technology with precolored compounds, color concentrates, wax concentrates and dry color.

A detailed reference chart ranks each colorant type in 15 categories: cost, throughput, clean-up, wasted colorant, letdowns, changeover times, consistency, metering systems, color control, lead times, availability, storage space, cleanliness, compatibility and simplicity for operator.

Advantages and disadvantages of each colorant type are itemized and evaluated relative to corresponding liquid color characteristics.

Text, illustrations and 400X magnifications of pigment particles explain how the single-pigment liquid base colors are produced, custom blended, and metered into injection and extrusion machines at typical letdowns of 100 to 1,000 phr.