A method is disclosed for producing flakes of a first material, the method comprising: a) supporting two supply cylinders of the first material and a fatiguing rod assembly, that includes at least one textured fatiguing rod, so that each fatiguing rod is sandwiched between the two cylinders, each fatiguing rod having a diameter smaller than an initial diameter of the two supply cylinders and being made of a second harder material; b) urging the surfaces of the two supply cylinders into contact with each fatiguing rod; and c) causing the supply cylinders and the fatiguing rod(s) to rotate while making rolling line contact with one another; wherein the supply cylinders and each fatiguing rod are urged against one another with sufficiently high contact pressure to modify the surface of the supply cylinders by fatigue and result in separation of flakes from the surfaces of the cylinders.

The invention relates to aluminum pigments which are at least partially coated with lubricant, wherein the aluminum pigments have a relative breadth of thickness distribution Δh of from 30% to less than 70%, as determined by a scanning electron microscope thickness count and as calculated on the basis of the corresponding cumulative breakthrough curve of the relative frequencies of occurrence, according to the formula Δh=100×(h.sub.90−h.sub.10)/h.sub.50, and an X-ray diffractogram, measured on pigments in substantially plane-parallel orientation, having one or two main peaks which do not correspond to the [111] reflexes. The invention further relates to a method for the production of said aluminum pigments and to uses thereof and also to nail varnishes and printing inks containing said aluminum pigments of the invention.

An apparatus is disclosed for producing flakes, the apparatus comprising: a) a support structure for supporting each of two supply cylinders, made of a first material from which flakes are to be produced, and a fatiguing rod assembly including at least one fatiguing rod made of a second material, each fatiguing rod having a diameter smaller than an initial diameter of the two supply cylinders; b) a compression mechanism for urging the surfaces of the two supply cylinders into contact with each fatiguing rod, and c) a drive mechanism for causing the supply cylinders to rotate while making rolling line contact with each fatiguing rod.

The contact pressure between the supply cylinders and each fatiguing rod is set sufficiently high to modify the surface of the supply cylinders by fatigue and result in separation of flakes of the first material from the surfaces of the supply cylinders.

Described herein is a process for producing an effect pigment paste including at least steps (1) and (2), namely producing a mixture including at least one effect pigment (a) and at least one polymer (b) in a liquid medium (c) (step (1)), and dispersing the mixture obtained after step (1) to obtain the effect pigment paste (step (2)), where step (2) is performed using a shaker and the effect pigment paste obtained after the performance of step (2) has ended is free of grinding media. Also described herein are an effect pigment paste producible by this process, containing an amount of effect pigment of at least 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the effect pigment paste, and a method of using a shaker for dispersing of effect pigments for production of an effect pigment paste.

The present invention relates to a glitter comprising a foil coated with metal pigments, more particularly aluminium pigments, to a method for producing it, to the use thereof in cosmetic products, coating materials such as paints, varnishes and printing inks, for example, and in adhesives and modelling and/or moulding compositions, and also to cosmetic products, coating materials and adhesives, and modelling and/or moulding compositions which comprise the glitter.

The invention relates to a powder paint comprising at least one base powder paint and at least one effect powder paint having effect pigments, said effect pigments being dispersed in a melt made from transparent effect powder paint. The invention also relates to a method for producing said type of powder paint and to an effect powder coating containing said type of powder paint.

The invention relates to aluminum pigments which are at least partially coated with lubricant, wherein the aluminum pigments have a relative breadth of thickness distribution h of from 30% to less than 70%, as determined by a scanning electron microscope thickness count and as calculated on the basis of the corresponding cumulative breakthrough curve of the relative frequencies of occurrence, according to the formula h=100(h.sub.90h.sub.10)/h.sub.50, and an X-ray diffractogram, measured on pigments in substantially plane-parallel orientation, having one or two main peaks which do not correspond to the [111] reflexes.

The invention further relates to a method for the production of said aluminum pigments and to uses thereof and also to nail varnishes and printing inks containing said aluminum pigments of the invention.

A pigment pellet preparation, comprises one or more effect pigment and one or more thermosetting resin. The effect pigment is dispersed in the thermosetting resin. The thermosetting resin has 3 or more reactive terminal groups and has an acid number from about 10 to about 50 mg KOH/g resin. The preparation comprises from about 70% to about 90% by weight of one or more effect pigment and from about 5% to about 35% by weight of one or more thermosetting resin. The pigment and thermosetting resin comprise about 95% or more of the preparation. The pellets have a diameter of about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm and a length of about 1 mm to about 5 cm.

A metallic pigment preparation that is composed of a metallic pigment, and a passivating agent and a neutralizing agent. The preparation can be provided in a non-dusting form, particularly in the shape of the pellet. The preparation can be easily stirred into aqueous or solvent-based liquid formulations. The preparation can also be used in natural rubber or synthetic latex.

The invention relates to aluminum pigments which are at least partially coated with lubricant, wherein the aluminum pigments have a relative breadth of thickness distribution h of from 30% to less than 70%, as determined by a scanning electron microscope thickness count and as calculated on the basis of the corresponding cumulative breakthrough curve of the relative frequencies of occurrence, according to the formula h=100(h.sub.90h.sub.10)/h.sub.50, and an X-ray diffractogram, measured on pigments in substantially plane-parallel orientation, having one or two main peaks which do not correspond to the [111] reflexes. The invention further relates to a method for the production of said aluminum pigments and to uses thereof and also to nail varnishes and printing inks containing said aluminum pigments of the invention.