By virtue of this internal pigmentation process, these materials are imbedded in the PMMA matrix, protecting them from physical exposure to conditions external to the bead. This allows these internally pigmented PMMA beads to be used in traditional coating processes and applications, delivering an added level of functionality and complexity not currently available in standard PMMA beads. Jeffrey Strahl, Vice President of H. W. Sands stated, “This product line opens up new market opportunities for high value pigments, in that they can now be applied in manners previously unavailable, and used in applications where they have not been used traditionally.”

Markets one might consider for this new offering are security markets where high value materials such as UV-to-Visible and IR-to-Visible (anti-Stokes) pigments can be imbedded into the PMMA bead for security coatings, augmenting the anti-scuff properties of the PMMA bead; or incorporated onto and into plastics allowing for a semi-continuous or continuous security feature when excited with the appropriate wavelength of light. In addition, incorporation into plastics through extrusion or injection molding will allow the Internally Pigmented PMMA Beads to maintain the integrity of the pigment, instead of homogeneously mixing the pigment throughout the bulk plastic.

Internally Pigmented PMMA Beads are a step up from standard pigmentation processes and limited only by the customer’s imagination. They allow for a new level of sophistication and technology for new product development. The size and availability of the Internally Pigmented PMMA Beads are in part based on the size of the individual pigments. Internally Pigmented PMMA Beads of 10 – 100 microns should be considered standard.

H. W. Sands Corp is a World Leader in Imaging Chemistry serving the Transaction Card, Security, Electrophotography, Printing Plate, Display and OLED markets since 1983.

For additional information please call H. W. Sands Corp’s Technical Service Department to consult with someone regarding development needs relative to this new product line.