HK1089196B - Pearlescent pigment composition, process for its preparation and its use as well as formulations comprising the same - Google Patents

Description

Pearlescent pigment preparation, method for the production thereof, use thereof and formulations containing the same

The invention relates to a high-gloss, non-toxic pearlescent pigment preparation and to the use thereof in plastics, resins and in particular in button plates (knopflatten) and jewelry articles, comprising one or more binders and a pigment mixture consisting of at least two components A and B in a ratio of from 20: 80 to 80: 20, wherein component A is a BiOCl pigment and component B is a pearlescent pigment.

To make button buttons with pearls, button manufacturers require high gloss pearlescent pigments. Pearlescent pigments meeting the above requirements are currently synthesized from basic lead carbonate or from BiOCl.

These two products have the following property profile:

performance of	Basic lead carbonate	BiOCl
			Gloss of	Gao Guangze	Gao Guangze
Chemical resistance	Sensitive to acids and sulphur compounds	High chemical resistance
			Light fastness	Height of	Low UV stability
Toxicity	Toxic	Is non-toxic
			Price	Is low in	Height of

The basic lead carbonate consists of uniform hexagonal platelets with smooth planar surfaces, which are highly transparent, have a refractive index n > 2, and are very light stable.

As extremely thin platelet forms, these pearlescent pigments are subject to certain limitations from the viewpoint of application technique. The action of acids, alkali and sulfur compounds and high mechanical and thermal loads leads to the destruction of platelets and thus to a loss of gloss. Basic lead carbonate cannot therefore be used in any case without restriction, especially in cases where physiological aspects and environmental protection benefits have to be taken into account, since it is toxic.

Nevertheless, the basic lead carbonate has always gained high acceptance in the button industry due to its favourable price/performance ratio, but the pressure from legislation and the clothing industry from many countries to the colouring of buttons without toxic heavy metals is increasing.

Due to its high gloss, BiOCl is used as a non-toxic alternative to basic lead carbonate. BiOCl crystallizes in the square shape and, depending on the precipitation conditions, sets into irregular flakes or, in the case of high-gloss pigments, forms extremely flat, rounded to square, antipodal pyramids.

A disadvantage of BiOCl is the high density and in particular its sensitivity to short wavelength light, which leads to a gradual blackening by photolysis. Despite having a high refractive index (n ═ 2.15) and metallic silver lustre, even the best BiOCl formulations do not achieve comparable hiding power to basic lead carbonate due to the less favorable crystalline form. Another disadvantage is the low mechanical loadability of the BiOCl pigments.

Another disadvantage is that BiOCl pigments are expensive compared to basic lead carbonate pigments. Thus, BiOCl pigments are used in lower concentrations for cost reasons, and the hiding power of such colorations is generally unsatisfactory due to the higher transparency compared to basic lead carbonate. Therefore, in order to increase hiding power, processors often incorporate hiding pigments, such as titanium dioxide, lithopone, zinc sulfide or barium sulfate, into the nacre coloration, but these pigments have a significant gloss-reducing effect and superimpose a white color on the nacre effect from all perspectives. This does not conform to the behavior of natural nacres, which show a distinct bright/dark gloss jump (Glanzflop) when the viewing angle is changed from vertical to planar.

The object of the present invention was to find high-gloss, non-toxic pigments for the preparation of pearlescent pigment preparations with a nacre effect which do not have the abovementioned disadvantages of the BiOCl pigments.

Surprisingly, a pearlescent pigment preparation has been found which comprises a binder and a pigment mixture consisting of a BiOCl pigment and a pearlescent pigment, which pearlescent pigment preparation is an inexpensive alternative to expensive BiOCl and at the same time has unusually high gloss and good hiding power.

Mixture of BiOCl pigment and cheap pearl pigment in a certain proportion, especially based on coating TiO₂Or at least one TiO₂-SiO₂-TiO₂The mixture of silver pigments of the lamellar substrates of the layer sequence is characterized in that the advantageous overscaling influences the gloss of the resulting BiOCl pigments while at the same time significantly increasing the hiding power. Both the visual impression and the measured values determined using a spectrophotometer showed that the gloss reduction of the high-gloss BiOCl pigment in the mixture of the two pigments was significantly less than would be expected from the mixing ratio of the two pigments. Due to the appearance under the transformation of the view angleNacres are typically of a bright/dark gloss jump, so that here the gloss impression corresponds to that of natural nacres. The parts produced by machining from semi-finished products coloured with the mixtures according to the invention also show the typical dark cut edges of natural nacres.

Pearlescent pigments, e.g. with TiO₂Coated mica flakes, having an advantageous property profile, which may be mentioned here in particular are high chemical and thermal resistance, good light stability, non-toxicity, low price, and easy handling when added to application media, such as plastics. However, due to their lower gloss compared to basic lead carbonate and BiOCl pigments, these pearlescent pigments have found only little use in button and jewelry manufacture, as a glossy appearance resembling natural mother-of-pearl is sought in these applications.

The present invention accordingly provides a high-gloss, non-toxic pearlescent pigment preparation comprising a binder and a pigment mixture of at least two components A and B in a ratio of from 20: 80 to 80: 20, wherein component A is a BiOCl pigment and component B is a pearlescent pigment.

The invention also provides the use of the high-gloss pigment preparations according to the invention, in particular in plastics, plastic films, resins, casting resins and in buttons and jewelry articles.

Mixtures of BiOCl pigments with flake-shaped colorants are disclosed in WO01/16235A 1. BiOCl pigments and pearlescent pigments, in particular with TiO, are not disclosed therein₂Coated sheets, in a certain ratio, for use in combination with resins, in particular casting resins. DE4432225a1 describes aluminium metal effect coatings which may comprise a pigment mixture containing a BiOCl pigment. The use of the pigment preparations according to the invention in resins, plastics and in particular in button pastes is not described in the prior art.

During the processing of the casting resin, a flowable paste formulation is preferred which facilitates stirring into the resin without air bubbles and rapidly and uniformly disperses the pigment in the viscous casting resin. Here, the composition of the paste liquid preferably consists of a solvent, a plasticizer and one or more resin components, such as nitrocellulose, alkyd resins, acrylates and the like. The compatibility with the application medium essentially determines the choice of the resin component.

In order to improve the handling of the pastes and to optimize the application results, the pigment preparations according to the invention may additionally comprise additives customary in the plastics industry, such as adhesion promoters, dispersants, surface-active substances, defoamers, levelling agents, emulsifiers, wetting agents, antistatics, UV stabilizers and antisettling agents, in amounts of from 0 to 10% by weight.

The pigment preparations according to the invention may additionally comprise processing aids, for example plasticizers, in amounts of from 0.1 to 30% by weight, based on the preparation. All plasticizers known to the person skilled in the art are suitable for the pearlescent pigment preparation according to the invention, for example those listed in Kunststoff-Taschenbuch (plastics handbook), 27 th edition, Saechtling, Hanser Press, Munich, 2001. Particularly suitable are phthalates, hydroxycarboxylic acid esters, epoxidized fatty acid derivatives, soya oil derivatives and sebacic acid.

If the pigment preparation according to the invention comprises a solvent or solvent mixture, it must be well compatible with the binder used. Suitable solvents are hydrophilic and hydrophobic solvents, which may be volatile or non-volatile. Particularly suitable solvents are water, organic solvents, such as gasoline, benzene, toluene, esters, such as butyl acetate or ethyl acetate, ether esters, such as ethyl glycol acetate, ether alcohols, such as ethyl glycol or butyl glycol, ethers, such as dimethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, ketones, such as cyclohexanone, acetone or methyl ethyl ketone, or alcohols, such as methanol, ethanol or butanol. Solvent mixtures of the above solvents may also be used.

The concentration of the solvent component in the pearlescent pigment preparations according to the invention is from 10 to 60% by weight, preferably from 15 to 50% by weight and in particular from 20 to 35% by weight, based on the pearlescent pigment preparation.

All binders known to the person skilled in the art are suitable for the pearlescent pigment preparation according to the invention, for example those listed in Carsten rock-Rohstoff-Tabellen (table of raw materials for Carsten paint), 10 th edition, Vincentz press, 2000. Particularly suitable are polyester resins, alkyd resins, acrylic resins, cellulose derivatives, modified natural resins, melamine resins, polyvinyl acetate and PVC copolymer resins, phenolic resins, polyacrylate resins, polymethacrylate resins, polyvinyl resins, polystyrene resins, epoxy resins, polyurethanes and rosin resins.

The proportion of binder in the pearlescent pigment preparations according to the invention is preferably from 2 to 30% by weight, in particular from 3 to 20% by weight, very particularly preferably from 5 to 15% by weight.

Pearlescent pigments based on the carrier coating technique are generally present in powder form and are advantageously converted into pourable pastes before they are added to the casting resin in order to avoid the inclusion of air in the tackifying resin. Suitable gelatinization aids are preferably the binders and liquid components already mentioned above. It is not essential for the result that the mixing of component A with component B already takes place before addition to the casting resin or, in the case of separate addition, takes place within the casting resin. In practice, however, it is preferred to process a mixture of the two components as a pourable paste. In applications where the inclusion of air is not an issue, component B may also be used in powder form. The ratio of component A to component B is from 80: 20 to 20: 80, particularly preferably from 70: 30 to 30: 70, and in particular from 60: 40 to 40: 60.

BiOCl pigments are known and commercially available, for example from DE-PS1003377, U.S.2,975,053, DE2411966, EP0496686B1 and DE4305280A1 and are available, for example, under the trade name Bi-Flair^_And Biron^_Sold by the company Merck KGaA (Germany). Due to the various production possibilities, BiOCl pigments having different optical properties, from matt to glossy and from transparent to opaque, can be obtained. The individual particles of the strongly lustrous BiOCl pigments are excellent in sizeIs chosen to be 6-20 μm, in particular 8-18 μm, and very particularly preferably 10-16 μm.

In addition to the BiOCl pigment, the pigment mixture according to the invention also comprises one or more pearlescent pigments. The pearlescent pigments used are, in particular, pigments based on platelet-shaped, transparent or translucent substrates selected, for example, from the group consisting of layered silicates, such as synthetic or natural mica, talc, sericite, kaolin or other silicate materials, coated with a coloured or colourless metal oxide, such as TiO, alone or mixed, in a single layer or in several layers one on top of the other₂Titanium suboxide, titanium oxynitride, pseudobrookite, Fe₂O₃、Fe₃O₄、FeOOH、SnO₂、Cr₂O₃ZnO, CuO, NiO, and other metal oxides.

Pearlescent pigments are disclosed, for example, in german patents and patent applications 1467468, 1959998, 2009566, 2214454, 2215191, 2244298, 2313331, 2522572, 3137808, 3137809, 3151343, 3151354, 3151355, 3211602, 3235017, 3842330 and 4445394 and may be available, for example, under the trade name Iriodin^_、Afflair^_Or Timiron^_Commercially available from the company Merck KGaA (Darmstadt, Germany).

Particularly preferred pigment preparations comprise TiO₂-、Fe₂O₃-、TiO₂-suboxide, TiO₂/Fe₂O₃-、Fe₃O₄FeOOH-or FeOOH/TiO₂Mica pigments. Further preferably coated with TiO₂And/or Fe₂O₃Of TiO 2₂Graphite, Fe₂O₃、SiO₂Or Al₂O₃A sheet. TiO is particularly preferable₂Mica pigment and coated TiO₂-SiO₂-TiO₂The mica pigment of (1). Silver pigments based on mica flakes or glass flakes are more particularly preferred.

Suitable additional platelet-shaped pigments are based in particular on pigments which are coated with one or more metal oxide layers (one, two, three),Five, six or seven layers) of SiO₂Flakes of Al₂O₃Flakes, graphite flakes, polymer flakes, TiO₂Flake or glass flake pearlescent pigments.

Furthermore, suitable as component B are multilayer pigments, as disclosed, for example, in German publications DE19618563, DE19618566, DE19618569, DE19707805, DE19707806 and DE 19746067. These pigments are based on mica (natural or synthetic), SiO₂Flakes, glass flakes, Al₂O₃Flakes, TiO₂Flakes, flake-shaped, transparent, coloured or colourless matrices of polymer flakes and usually having a thickness of from 0.3 to 5 μm, in particular from 0.4 to 2.0. mu.m. The dimensions of the other two dimensions are generally from 1 to 250. mu.m, preferably from 2 to 100. mu.m, and in particular from 5 to 40 μm. Multilayer pigments consist of a base (substrate) coated with metal oxides (at least two). The base material flakes are usually carried out in a certain manner, for example mica, SiO₂Flakes, glass flakes, Al₂O₃The lamellae are coated with a plurality of layers in order to form a layer structure consisting of alternating layers of high and low refractive index. The multilayer pigments preferably contain 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 layers, in particular 3, 4 or 5 layers. Suitable highly refractive metal oxides are, for example, titanium dioxide, zirconium oxide, zinc oxide, iron-titanium oxide (iron titanate) and/or chromium oxide, in particular TiO₂And/or Fe₂O₃. The low-refractivity metal oxide used is SiO₂And Al₂O₃. However, MgF may also be used for this purpose₂Or an organic polymer (e.g., an acrylate). The coating of the substrate flakes can be carried out, for example, as described in WO93/08237 (wet chemical coating) or DE-OS-19614637(CVD process).

Preferred multilayer pigments have the following structure:

substrate + TiO₂Layer + SiO₂Layer + TiO₂Layer(s)

Substrate + TiO₂Layer + Al₂O₃Layer + TiO₂Layer(s)

The particle size of the pearlescent pigments is preferably from 1 to 200. mu.m, in particular from 1 to 120 μm and very particularly preferably from 1 to 60 μm.

The pearlescent or multilayer pigments according to component B can also be provided with protective layers in order to improve the light, weathering and chemical stability or in order to increase the compatibility in different media. Suitable post-coatings or post-treatments are, for example, the processes described in DE-PS2215191, DE-OS3151354, DE-OS3235017 or DE-OS 3334598. The chemical stability is further increased or the handling of the pigments, for example the incorporation into different media, is simplified by these post-coatings. To improve wettability, dispersibility and/or compatibility with the application medium, Al may be used₂O₃Or ZrO₂Or mixtures or mixed phases thereof, to the pigment surface. Furthermore, organic post-coating can be carried out, for example, with silanes, as described, for example, in EP0090259, EP0634459, WO99/57204, WO96/32446, WO99/57204, U.S.5,759,255, U.S.5,571,851, WO01/92425 or in J.J.Ponjie, Philips technical review, Vol.44, No. 3, page 81 and the following pages and pages P.H.Harding, J.C.berg, J.Adhesion Sci.Technol, Vol.11, No. 4, page 471 493. The above-mentioned further applied substances represent only about 0.1 to 5% by weight, preferably 0.5 to 3.0% by weight, of the pigment.

It is frequently additionally proposed to add UV absorbers to the pearlescent pigment preparations according to the invention in amounts of from 0.01 to 10% by weight, preferably from 0.01 to 5% by weight, and in particular from 0.01 to 3% by weight, based on the BiOCl content. A particularly suitable UV stabilizer is Eusolex, tradename^_(Merck KGaA Co.), e.g. Eusolex^_4360, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, and benzotriazoles, for example Tinuvin^_(Ciba-Geigy) commercially available UV stabilizers.

However, in the case of the pearlescent pigment preparations according to the invention, the abovementioned measures are only taken in the case of extreme exposure to UV radiation, such as occurs, for example, in the open air for prolonged exposure. Metal oxides (TiO) present in the preferred component B when used in buttons and jewelry articles₂) Is sufficient to absorb UV light in the presence ofBenzotriazole is added at 0.01% as is conventional for this application, e.g. Tinuvin from Ciba-Geigy^_328 the mixture is protected in the same manner. This is clearly seen in the following graph of the exposure test. The pigment mixtures present in the pearlescent pigment preparations according to the invention achieve exposure times three times longer than the pure BiOCl high-gloss pigments, i.e. the light fastness rises from a level of 3-4 on the blue scale to a level of 6 on the blue scale.

(silver for button production: containing Iriododin^_123 paste)

(Bi＝Bi-Flair^_: paste containing BiOCl pigment)

Exposure of BiOCl variants

Particularly preferred pearlescent pigment preparations comprise:

5-15% by weight of a binder

10-60% by weight of BiOCl/pearlescent pigment (20: 80-80: 20)

0.1 to 30 wt.% of a plasticizer

10-60 wt.% of water and/or an organic solvent or solvent mixture

0.1-10 wt.% of an additive

The pearlescent pigment preparation according to the invention is simple and easy to handle. The pigment mixture can be introduced by simple stirring into the application system. The introduction of air is to be avoided in order not to cause defects in the button plate due to small rising air bubbles. Such defective spots are not limited to impurities in pearl coloring, but appear clearly visible as flow marks (Flie β linie) due to misorientation of pigment flakes.

The pearlescent pigment preparations according to the invention are particularly suitable for casting resins. Suitable casting resins are, in particular, unsaturated polyesters, formaldehyde resins, (meth) acrylate resins and epoxy resins. The casting resin is particularly preferably an unsaturated polyester resin. Usually, the sheet is first produced using a colored casting resin, which is then further processed into, for example, buttons, handles, buckles and clasps (Spangen).

The plates were cast between mirror glass plates or in a centrifugal drum. Tumble casting is suitable for cold-curable systems, in particular unsaturated polyester resins. The methacrylate resin is cured primarily thermally, preferably in a glass mold. In order for the pigments in the pearlescent pigment preparation according to the invention not to settle, the casting resin must have a sufficiently high viscosity. The monomeric methacrylate must be prepolymerized to the desired consistency.

During drum casting, centrifugal forces cause the resin to flow uniformly. This flow process causes orientation of the pigment flakes. The possibility of variation is obtained by the casting in of zones or layers of resin of different colours or by the deliberate formation of flow turbulence. Finally, the still plastic sheet taken out of the centrifuge drum can be embossed into a structure which, due to the positional variation of the nacre pigment, remains visible even after smooth turning or polishing of the sheet surface.

In the case of casting between glass plates, the pigment particles are mostly oriented by vibration. The temperature necessary for the polymerization is kept constant by placing in an air bath or a water bath.

A cloud structure is obtained if a metal wire, a small magnetic bar, etc. is moved through the resin in as subsequent a stage as possible.

The pearlescent pigment preparations according to the invention can be used for coloring: coatings, powder coatings, paints, printing inks, security printing inks, plastics, artificial pearls, films for agriculture, seed coatings, decorative panels for the building sector and thermoforming, in particular toggle plates and articles of jewellery, and can be used in cosmetic formulations.

The concentration of the pearlescent pigment preparation in the application system to be pigmented is generally from 0.1 to 3.0% by weight, preferably from 0.2 to 1.5% by weight and in particular from 0.4 to 1.0% by weight, based on the total solids content of the system. However, it depends on the specific application.

The present invention therefore also provides formulations comprising the pearlescent pigment preparations according to the invention and products pigmented therewith.

The following examples are intended to illustrate the invention, but not to limit it.

Examples

I. Gloss measurement

BiOCl and subdivided TiO measurements were carried out using a spectrophotometer (instrument: Zeiss GK 311/M two-way goniometer)₂Mica pigment (Iriododin)^_123: TiO with particle size of 5-20 μm₂Mica pigments, products of Merck KGaA (Darmstadt) and mixtures thereof as a function of the respective measured angle lying outside the reflection region. The test samples were sheets of unsaturated polyester resin produced in a centrifugal casting process with a pigment preparation content of 0.8%. The pigment preparation contained a pigment content of 30%.

Pigment mixture		25°	20°	15°	10°	5°
							BiOClBiOCl/Iriodin_123BiOCl/Iriodin_123BiOCl/Iriodin_123Iriodin_123	3∶21∶12∶3	46.644.443.841.339.7	56.254.653.851.250.0	65.264.363.260.660.0	74.173.772.569.969.4	80.280.278.775.573.5

Gloss measurement

Bi: a BiOCl pigment; iriodin^_123

Formula for torsional buckle plate

Example 2.1

1000g of polyester casting resin (containing paraffin wax)

6g of BiOCl pigment/Iriododin^_123 (60: 40) -30% paste in alkyd, dibutyl phthalate and butyl acetate

4ml cobalt octanoate (1% cobalt)

24ml Cyclohexanone peroxide (50%)

The button plates obtained according to the above formulation showed a high gloss nacre effect, which was only obtained with twice the pigment amount in terms of gloss and hiding power of basic lead carbonate.

Example 2.2

In two-color casting, two separate batch mixtures A) and B) are required. These two mixtures were alternately injected into a running drum, forming texture and cloud spots, where complete mixing of the two batches should not occur.

Mixture A

1000g of polyester casting resin

8g of BiOCl pigment/Iriododin^_123 (1: 1) -30% paste in a mixture of alkyd resin, dibutyl phthalate and butyl acetate

4g of methanol

4.8ml cobalt octanoate (1% cobalt)

24ml Cyclohexanone peroxide (50%)

Mixture B

1000g of polyester casting resin

2g of carbon Black

6ml cobalt octanoate (1% cobalt)

24ml Cyclohexanone peroxide (50%)

The button plate made according to the above formulation showed a vivid stripe pattern consisting of mother-of-pearl color and black stripes.

Example 2.3

1000g of polyester casting resin (containing paraffin wax)

3g of BiOCl pigment-30% paste in a solution of alkyd resin, plasticizer and solvent

3g Iriodin^_123-gelatinization in styrene at 30% concentration

4ml cobalt octanoate (1% cobalt)

24ml Cyclohexanone peroxide (50%)

Although the two components A and B were mixed only in the casting resin, the results were similar to example 2.1.

Example 2.4

1000g PMMA casting resin (Plexit, R _ hm Co., Ltd.)

8g of BiOCl pigment/Iriododin^_123 (70: 30) -30% concentration in nitrocellulose lacquer

3g of alpha, alpha' -azoisobutyronitrile

3g of dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate

The uniformly colored casting resin was cured between the glass plates at 70 ℃. The curing is carried out under horizontally acting vibration, kept in a thermostatic water bath. After demolding, a panel having a nacre luster is obtained, which can be used as a decorative wall element.

Example 2.5

1000g of nitrocellulose lacquer consisting of 4 parts of high-viscosity nitrocellulose dissolved in 96 parts of ether/ethanol mixture

10g of BiOCl pigment/Iridin^_111 (1: 1) -35% concentration (Iriododin) in nitrocellulose lacquer^_111: TiO with particle size less than 15 mu m₂Mica pigment; merck KGaA (product of Darmstadt) company)

0.1％ Eusolex^_4360(Merck KGaA (Darmstad) Co.)

The above-described coating is used as a primer in pearl coating due to its good hiding power and gloss. Additional coatings were performed using pure BiOCl high gloss pigment. Pearls primed with the pearlescent pigment preparation according to the invention exhibit significantly higher brightness and color uniformity compared to unprimed pearls.

Claims (14)

1. High-gloss, non-toxic pearlescent pigment preparations comprising 5 to 15% by weight of one or more binders, 10 to 60% by weight of a pigment mixture consisting of at least two components A and B in a ratio of 20: 80 to 80: 20, where component A is a BiOCl pigment and component B is a pearlescent pigment based on a platelet-shaped substrate; 0.1 to 30 wt% of a plasticizer; 10-60 wt% of water and/or an organic solvent or solvent mixture; 0.1 to 10 wt.%, based on the formulation, of additives customary in plastics processing.

2. A pearlescent pigment preparation according to claim 1, characterized in that component A is a high-gloss BiOCl pigment and has a particle size of from 6 to 20 μm.

3. A pearlescent pigment preparation according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that component B is based on mica flakes, Fe₂O₃Flakes, glass flakes, TiO₂Flakes, SiO₂Flakes of Al₂O₃Flake, polymer flake, or graphite flake.

4. The pearlescent pigment preparation according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pearlescent pigment of component B has a particle size distribution of from 1 to 200 μm.

5. A pearlescent pigment preparation according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pearlescent pigment is TiO₂Mica pigment.

6. A pearlescent pigment preparation according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the preparation is present in the form of a paste.

7. Pearlescent pigment preparation according to claim 1, characterized in that the additives are levelling agents, antisettling agents, antistatic agents, UV stabilizers, adhesion promoters, dispersants, surface-active substances, defoamers, emulsifiers, wetting agents.

8. Pearlescent pigment preparation according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises 0.01 to 10% by weight of UV absorber.

9. The pearlescent pigment preparation according to claim 8, characterized in that the UV absorber is selected from the group consisting of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone or benzotriazole.

10. Method for producing a pearlescent pigment preparation according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that component a in the form of a paste and component B in the form of a powder or paste are mixed with one another.

11. Use of the pearlescent pigment preparation according to any one of claims 1 to 9 in coatings, powder coatings, paints, printing inks, security printing inks, plastics, artificial pearls, agricultural films, seed coatings, decorative panels for the architectural sector, thermoforming, button plates, articles of jewellery and in cosmetic formulations.

12. Use of a pearlescent pigment preparation according to claim 11, characterized in that the plastic is a casting resin.

13. Use of a pearlescent pigment preparation according to claim 12, characterized in that the casting resin is an unsaturated polyester resin.

14. A formulation comprising a pearlescent pigment preparation according to any one of claims 1 to 9.