Even the best pigments can cause problems when formulation, processing, or application conditions are not optimal. This troubleshooting guide covers the most common pigment-related issues and provides actionable solutions.

Common Problems & Solutions

Problem	Symptoms	Likely Causes	Solutions
Floating / Flooding	Color separation, uneven surface appearance	Pigment density differences, poor wetting, incompatible pigment combinations	Use wetting agents, adjust pigment combination, control viscosity
Poor Dispersion	Lower color strength, specks, streaks	Insufficient milling, wrong dispersant, pigment agglomerates	Optimize milling time/energy, select proper dispersant, pre-wet pigment
Migration / Bleeding	Color transfer to adjacent layers	Pigment solubility in medium, over-dosing, low molecular weight pigment	Switch to higher-MW pigment, reduce loading, add barrier layer
Fading / Color Shift	Loss of color intensity over time	Low lightfastness grade, UV exposure, chemical attack	Upgrade to higher lightfastness pigment, add UV stabilizers
Settling / Hard Pack	Pigment cake at bottom, difficult to re-disperse	Particle size too large, insufficient anti-settling agent	Reduce particle size, add rheology modifier, improve suspension
Viscosity Increase	Thickening over time, poor flow	Pigment-binder interaction, reactive pigment surface	Surface-treat pigment, adjust binder system, control pH

Diagnostic Flowcharts

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