Xirallic is an
alumina effect pigment An alumina effect pigment is a pearlescent pigment based on alumina ( aluminium oxide). It is used for decorative purposes on paints and plastics, giving them a matte, metal-like appearance.
Production process
In the first step of the produc ...
made of
aluminum oxide platelets covered with
titanium oxide
Titanium oxide may refer to:
* Titanium dioxide (titanium(IV) oxide), TiO2
* Titanium(II) oxide (titanium monoxide), TiO, a non-stoichiometric oxide
* Titanium(III) oxide (dititanium trioxide), Ti2O3
* Ti3O
* Ti2O
* δ-TiOx (x= 0.68–0.75)
* T ...
that shows a strong glitter effect with a distinct shimmering behavior.
It was developed and patented by researchers of the company
Merck KGaA
The Merck Group, branded and commonly known as Merck, is a German multinational science and technology company headquartered in Darmstadt, with about 60,000 employees and present in 66 countries. The group includes around 250 companies; the ma ...
in Japan. Because the pigment was produced at a single plant in
Onahama, production was severally curtailed following the
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The occurred at 14:46 JST (05:46 UTC) on 11 March. The magnitude 9.0–9.1 (M) undersea megathrust earthquake had an epicenter in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Oshika Peninsula of the Tōhoku region, and lasted approximately six mi ...
. The shortage of the pigment caused
Ford
Ford commonly refers to:
* Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford
* Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river
Ford may also refer to:
Ford Motor Company
* Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company
* Ford F ...
and
Chrysler to restrict the availability of cars and trucks in some red and black paints. The shortage also affected other automobile makes.
Hyundai replaced Xirallic with
mica in their paints. The plant reopened on 8 May 2011.
See also
*
Alumina effect pigment An alumina effect pigment is a pearlescent pigment based on alumina ( aluminium oxide). It is used for decorative purposes on paints and plastics, giving them a matte, metal-like appearance.
Production process
In the first step of the produc ...
References
{{reflist
* Pfaff, G., Huber, A., “Spezielle Effektpigmente auf Basis von Aluminiumoxid-Plättchen”, Welt der Farben(2005)
* http://www.iol.co.za/business/international/closure-of-pigment-plant-limits-certain-colour-cars-1.1048481#.UCY2JJ3iaHc
* http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/innovation/2011/1125/1224307878356.html
External links
Xirallic info pagefrom
Merck KGaA
The Merck Group, branded and commonly known as Merck, is a German multinational science and technology company headquartered in Darmstadt, with about 60,000 employees and present in 66 countries. The group includes around 250 companies; the ma ...
Inorganic pigments
Merck Group