Metallic aluminum paints

It is in the automotive sector, mainly for body paint, that metallic paints are most popular.

Indeed, we rarely see a metallic aluminum paint in a bathroom, on a ceiling or even on an artist's canvas. Joking aside, we also find in industry (gates, bars, PVC, cladding, household appliances, etc.), these aluminum-based metallic paints, on an even larger scale than in the world of cars. The qualities of an aluminum paint are numerous.

In terms of appearance, they give the impression of a surface made of pure metal, although it is actually, remember, paint! The aluminum pigments, which give these aesthetic qualities to the metallic effect finishes, are kinds of flakes, in the form of "corn-flakes", that is to say flat, which measure between 5 and 80 thousandths of a millimeter . These pigments very easily produce a very qualitative reflective and sparkling appearance.

The qualities of metallic aluminum paints

They can sometimes contain a little mother-of-pearl, and sometimes a little dye or tints, but they are not conducive to being colored*. Metallic effect paints, although they are limited in their coloring, nevertheless offer certain undeniable qualities : 1. They are economical : remember, aluminum is the most naturally present metal on earth. These pigments cost little and only 10g are enough to make 1 liter of paint ! 2. They are beautiful.

The pigmentation effect of these metal micro-flakes makes it possible to transform an uninteresting surface into an optically attractive surface. 3. They are easy to paint and cover: given the natural opacity of the pigments, metallic aluminum paints cover quickly and well, unlike pearlescent paints. The weak point of aluminum metallic paint is that you cannot obtain beautiful colors by adding tints. The gray and opaque appearance of pigments does not allow this. If you see superb blue, red, orange metallic paints... it's because they are in fact mostly pearly paints !

The variety of aluminum

In the world of paint formulation, we handle a wide variety of pigments composed of 80 to 100% aluminum. They are called "Silver Dollars or "Corn-flakes" or "VMP" or even "leafing" according to their characteristics and qualities.

The different sizes of these particles give rise to very fine paints, polished, satin appearance, with little shine, or to more iridescent and glittery paints. Since the advent of water-based paints, aluminum coated and protected by silica have been used to prevent oxidation in water. Treatments are also carried out today to color the surface of the pigments to obtain some colors without adding dyes in the paints.

The effects of aluminum-based metallizations

Have you ever heard of sputtering ? It is a technique of depositing aluminum on a surface, by a vacuum process with a bell, to obtain a chrome effect. This is obtained, in the same way as the chrome paints, with 100% aluminum, without any other heavy or toxic metals.

There are therefore a variety of aluminums, thanks to the extraordinary progress that pigment manufacturers have made over the last 100 years, from the first aluminum cutting waste, to high-tech products that can be worth several thousand euros per kg.

Metallic gold paint