Specialty colorants enhance the appearance or quality of an appliance, food, or other manufactured parts and plastics. Colorants include the coloring materials of specialty dyes and specialty pigments. You can add to or improve color of a product by using liquid, powder, beaded or pelleted specialty pigments and dyes.

Specialty pigments are water-, resin- and oil-insoluble. They are spreadable when combined with a color dispersing agent. Plastics, inks, cosmetics and paints fall into this category. Specialty dyes can blend with water, and are used for paper, acrylic, nylon and silk. Specialty pigments and dyes can also be divided into organic or inorganic. Organic specialty colorants are animal- or vegetable-based. Indigo is an example of an organic vegetable-based specialty colorant since it's derived from the indigofera plant species. Sepia is an example of an animal-based organic colorant because it's extracted from cuttlefish. Inorganic specialty colorants, which are considered insoluble pigments, are derived from minerals such as gemstones, oxides and salts. When looking for specialty colorants for products relating to your business, you should:

1. Find the right specialty coloration accessories for your projects.

2. Choose between inorganic or organic specialty colorants.

3. Keep a diversified inventory of specialty pigments and dyes for your business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Pick the right specialty colorants that match with your product requirements

Several manufacturers of specialty colorants target large companies or small businesses that work with plastics, food and drugs, cosmetics, and paints.

I recommend: Vortex Liquid Color manufactures custom specialty colorants intended for use on housewares, appliances or medical supplies. Reitech Corporation produces specialty colorants for adhesives, coatings and paints used in arts and crafts, printing and carpet backing. International Foodcraft Corp. is a specialty colorant supplier of food additives.

Add organic forms of specialty dyes and pigments in addition to inorganic

While inorganic colorants rely on chemicals, organic specialty colorants offer a safer, more natural alternative since they are water-soluble and based on plant and animal extracts.

I recommend: Clariant provides organic specialty pigments and dyes for detergents, polymer processing and candles. Prime Colorants, Inc. offers organic specialty pigments and dyes that are suitable for packaging, automotive and household applications.

Decide between liquid or dry specialty colorants

Specialty colorant suppliers typically manufacture and distribute liquid concentrates, dry powders or pellets.

I recommend: Peacock Colors Inc. supplies a variety of dry and liquid specialty colorants, including thermochromic pigments, for special effects or industrial processes. Excel Polymers, LLC offers dry colorants and additives, as well as color matching, toll mixing and recycling services. DuPont is another specialty colorant supplier that stocks liquids and additives for paints and polymers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Specialty dyes are either colorfast or fugitive. They are colorfast when unaffected by washing or light exposure. Specialty dyes are fugitive when they easily fade.
• •  Some forms of specialty pigments can also be used with iron. Lead-based oxides are added to certain paints to prevent iron-based objects from rusting.