What Is Pigment?
Dyes are organic, water-soluble compounds that are dissolved in liquid for easy application. Dyes are typically used for colouring hair, clothing or other surfaces. When a dye is applied to your hair, it typically penetrates all of your hair shafts from root to tip. As long as you keep applying new coats of colour (dye), you will maintain your new colour. The amount of time it takes to fully saturate each hair shaft varies depending on how porous that individual strand is; however, on average, dyes take two hours to completely saturate each strand. Because they penetrate hair so deeply, they tend to be permanent—and if you choose not to use semi-permanent or permanent dye removers, they can be difficult to remove. Pigments are inorganic and non-water soluble compounds that remain suspended within a solvent until they’re ready for use. Pigments don’t colour anything; instead, they reflect light at different wavelengths than what was originally reflected off of them. This property is called iridescence. They can also absorb light instead of reflecting it out as pigments do. For example: when pigment green 7 absorbs red light, it reflects green light out—which is why we see green when we look at Pigment Green 7!
Dye, Pigment, What’s The Difference? Pigment And Dye.
Pigments are pure, solid colours, whereas dyes are typically liquid or powdered and have to be dissolved in a solvent before they can be used. With pigments, all you need to do is add them to your product. That said, there are also a few drawbacks that go along with pigments; for one thing, pigments tend to be more expensive than dyes. Pigments aren’t necessarily an all-or-nothing proposition either; you can mix any number of pigment colours to achieve virtually any colour. (That’s why paint manufacturers’ formulas remain a closely guarded secret.)
This allows you plenty of room for experimentation—the one caveat being that mixing too many different types of pigment will result in muddy browns instead of bright hues. The other drawback to using pigment is that it tends to fade faster than dye when exposed to light. For example, if you’re using a pigment green like PY3, then over time it will turn into PY34 and eventually PY35 as it fades away completely. The most common pigment green in use today is PY83 (also known as pigment green 7), which has replaced PY3 on most packaging as it has better lightfastness properties.
The Permanence Of Paint Colours?
If a paint colour has been made with an organic pigment, it can’t be changed. This is because paint colours that use organic pigments (or dyes) will not stand out over time. Organic pigments become less transparent over time, meaning they lose some of their intensity and vibrancy. Because of its permanence, a home’s exterior may not need to be repainted as often as one with a non-permanent colour. However, if you want to change its look periodically, switching to an inorganic pigment may be your best bet. Inorganic pigments are more durable than dyes because they aren’t affected by fading or discolouration from dirt or sun exposure.
Permanence Of Dyes: Pigment And Dye
Pigments are generally insoluble in water, whereas dyes are soluble. In some cases, however, dyes may be made from the largest pigment green 7 manufacturers. The strength of a pigment colour depends on its chromophore’s ability to absorb visible light. Dyes tend to run or wash out over time because they bind to proteins in a fabric during processing or due to exposure to moisture during washing. Many new fabrics have built-in colourfastness—that is, colour retention that doesn’t fade even after repeated washing cycles. Because of their chemical nature, dyes often reflect ultraviolet (UV) light; pigment colours do not. Some pigments, such as carbon black and titanium dioxide, impart opacity to textiles; many dyes do not. Finally, some dyes can be reactive when exposed to certain chemicals or environmental conditions.
