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Water-based Paint Colorants

MasterFormat 09 91 13 Exterior Painting; 09 91 23 Interior Painting

This information reflects our best understanding of product composition in 2021.

This Common Product focuses on low VOC water-based paint colorant systems. Water-based paint colorants are designed to tint interior and exterior base paints. Several different colorants may be mixed with a base paint to give a specific tint....

More about Water-based Paint Colorants

This Common Product focuses on low VOC water-based paint colorant systems. Water-based paint colorants are designed to tint interior and exterior base paints. Several different colorants may be mixed with a base paint to give a specific tint. Unlike universal colorants that can also be mixed with solvent-based alkyd paints, water-based colorants are designed to be used only with water-based paints. This specificity gives them several advantages over universal colorants, such as lower VOC content. It helps them avoid problems associated with universal colorants like surfactant bleeding, increased tack, and reduced blocking resistance. Addtionally, water-based colorants tend to affect the viscosity of the base paint less. 

Many of the additives in water-based colorants are similar to those found in water-based based paints. The level of pigment used in each colorant depends on its color strength, surface area, and the type of pigment. Pigments used in water-based paint colorants can be based on organic or inorganic chemical structures. Organic pigments tend to be brighter while inorganic pigments tend to be duller. Furthermore, the chemical structure of the pigment affects numerous physical properties of the final paint such as its resistance to weather and chemicals. The type of pigment can also affect both type and amount of additives added to specific colorants. For instance, titanium dioxide can promote the photodegradation of organic pigments. Similarly, some dispersants can be used on both organic and inorganic pigments, but a higher concentration is required for an organic pigment, and even higher concentration may be required for a black pigment. Despite the differences in formulation, additives were identified as common among the different types of pigments surveyed for this Common Product. 

In order to mix pigments with the base paint, a wetting agent is typically required in both the base paint and the colorant. Wetting agents are additives that are designed to lower the surface tension of the liquids that the solid pigment particles mix with. These surfactants can be based on several different types of chemistry. While the paint industry is moving away from the use of alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs, or APEOs), fluorinated wetting agents are available for use with low-VOC water-based paints that aim to both reduce the amount of wetting agent required and remove the need for a wetting agent at the letdown phase of production in which the colorant is diluted. Little disclosure is available on the chemical composition of these surfactants. An additional concern is that low levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), byproducts of pigment production, have been measured in a number of different paint colorants.

Name % Weight Whole Function GREENSCREEN® Sources
Water
7732-18-5
32.68% Diluent/ Sovent Subscribe to view
Ferric oxide
1309-37-1
Unknown Red Pigment Subscribe to view
Ferric oxide, yellow
51274-00-1
Unknown Yellow Pigment Subscribe to view
Phthalocyanine Green
1328-53-6
Unknown Green Pigment Subscribe to view
Pigment Blue 15
147-14-8
Unknown Blue Pigment Subscribe to view
Carbon black
1333-86-4
Unknown Black Pigment Subscribe to view
Titanium dioxide
13463-67-7
Unknown White Pigment Subscribe to view
Barium sulfate
7727-43-7
13.03% Extender Pigment Subscribe to view
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(2,4,6-tris(1-phenylethyl)phenyl)-omega-hydroxy-
70559-25-0
11.22% Dispersant Subscribe to view
Talc
14807-96-6
7.45% Extender Subscribe to view
Polyethylene glycol
25322-68-3
5.58% Viscocity Modifier/ Humectant Subscribe to view
Titanium dioxide
13463-67-7
2.23% Extender Pigment Subscribe to view
Ethoxylated branched c11-c14, c13-rich alcohols
78330-21-9
2.23% Wetting Agent Subscribe to view
SOLVENT-DEWAXED HEAVY PARAFFINIC PETROLEUM DISTILLATES
64742-65-0
0.74% Defoamer Subscribe to view
Quartz
14808-60-7
0.22% Residual Subscribe to view
2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one
2682-20-4
0.04% Antimicrobial Pesticide Subscribe to view
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBs)
<0.01% Residual Subscribe to view
Name % Weight Part % Weight Whole Function GREENSCREEN® Sources
Water
7732-18-5
32.68% 32.68% Diluent/ Sovent Subscribe to view
Pigments in Water-based Paint Colorants
24.57% 24.57% Pigment Subscribe to view
Ferric oxide
1309-37-1
(Nested within Pigments in Water-based Paint Colorants)
Unknown Unknown Red Pigment Subscribe to view
Ferric oxide, yellow
51274-00-1
(Nested within Pigments in Water-based Paint Colorants)
Unknown Unknown Yellow Pigment Subscribe to view
Phthalocyanine Green
1328-53-6
(Nested within Pigments in Water-based Paint Colorants)
Unknown Unknown Green Pigment Subscribe to view
Pigment Blue 15
147-14-8
(Nested within Pigments in Water-based Paint Colorants)
Unknown Unknown Blue Pigment Subscribe to view
Carbon black
1333-86-4
(Nested within Pigments in Water-based Paint Colorants)
Unknown Unknown Black Pigment Subscribe to view
Titanium dioxide
13463-67-7
(Nested within Pigments in Water-based Paint Colorants)
Unknown Unknown White Pigment Subscribe to view
Barium sulfate
7727-43-7
13.03% 13.03% Extender Pigment Subscribe to view
Poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(2,4,6-tris(1-phenylethyl)phenyl)-omega-hydroxy-
70559-25-0
11.22% 11.22% Dispersant Subscribe to view
Talc
14807-96-6
7.45% 7.45% Extender Subscribe to view
Polyethylene glycol
25322-68-3
5.58% 5.58% Viscocity Modifier/ Humectant Subscribe to view
Titanium dioxide
13463-67-7
2.23% 2.23% Extender Pigment Subscribe to view
Ethoxylated branched c11-c14, c13-rich alcohols
78330-21-9
2.23% 2.23% Wetting Agent Subscribe to view
SOLVENT-DEWAXED HEAVY PARAFFINIC PETROLEUM DISTILLATES
64742-65-0
0.74% 0.74% Defoamer Subscribe to view
Quartz
14808-60-7
0.22% 0.22% Residual Subscribe to view
2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one
2682-20-4
0.04% 0.04% Antimicrobial Pesticide Subscribe to view
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBs)
<0.01% <0.01% Residual Subscribe to view

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Known or Potential Residuals

Known or Potential Residuals for Chemical
CASRN NAME GREENSCREEN® TYPE FREQUENCY % Weight Chemical % Weight Product SOURCE
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Other Process Chemicals

Other Process Chemicals for Chemical
CASRN NAME GREENSCREEN® TYPE FREQUENCY % WT CHEM % WT PRODUCT SOURCES
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Habitable Resources (8)

Habitable Resources for Product
TYPE TITLE
Report Full Disclosure Required: A Strategy to Prevent Asthma Through Building Product Selection
Report Healthy Environments: Understanding Antimicrobial Ingredients In Building Materials
Tool Interior Paint Product Guidance
Tool HBN's Transformation Targets: A Framework for Driving Market Change
Template Manufacturer Information Request Email Template - Paint
Report Paint Standard and Certification Requirements
Report PFAS in Paints
Article Low VOC? Don’t Stop There.

Sources

Sources for Common Product Data
Source Uploaded Document Linked Document
21 CFR 175_300
40 CFR 180_920
8600N KX White SDS
8613N AX Yellow SDS
8614N T Medium Yellow SDS
8621N DU Phthalo Green SDS
8632N EU Phthalo Blue SDS
8635N F Red Oxide SDS
8647N R Red SDS
8649N V Magenta SDS
8651N RU High Hide Red SDS
8678N C Yellow Oxide SDS
8688N L Raw Umber SDS
8691N B Lamp Black SDS
8697N I Brown Oxide SDS
Acticide MBS
Aerosil 200 SDS
Aerosol TR-70
Aurasperse Brochure
BASF Pure Options
BASF Universal Colorant Formulation Additives
BASF Wetting Agents
Blend A Color EDS
Capstone Fluorosurfactants
Capstone FS-61
Capstone FS-81
CCA Brochure
CCA Technical Paper
Chemours US8022238B2
Clariant Colorant Brochure
Colanyl Blue B2G 131
Colanyl Blue B2G 131 SDS
Colanyl Green GC 531
Colanyl Green GC 531 SDS
Colanyl Red GG 531
Colanyl Red GG 531 SDS
Colanyl Violet RL 532
Colanyl Violet RL 532 SDS
Colanyl Yellow 2GXD 530
Colanyl Yellow 2GXD 530 SDS
Color Preview Red RD SDS
CPSColor Colorants
Disperbyk 199 TDS
Disperbyk 2060 TDS
Disperbyk 2061 SDS
Disperbyk 2061 TDS
Dispersogen AN 200
Dispersogen AN 200 SDS
DSM IP Assets BV US10336853B2
Dumitru 2011
Emulsogen TS 200 SDS
Emulsogen TS 200 TDS
Gennex Black SDS
Gennex Gray SDS
Gennex Magenta SDS
Gennex Orange SDS
Gennex Organic Red SDS
Gennex Organic Yellow SDS
Gennex Oxide Red SDS
Gennex Oxide Yellow SDS
Gennex Red Toner SDS
Gennex Thalo Blue SDS
Gennex Thalo Green SDS
Gennex White SDS
Hu 2009
IARC-CB-TiO2-Talc
iPCB Pigments Resource
Jahnke 2019
L Raw Umber TDS
Lutensol XP 50
Master Hide Interior Latex PDS
MPI Problems with Tints
NovoColor HP II TDS
PCI 20000724
PCI 20050101
PCI 20111001
Pigment Dispersions
Pluronic 17R4 SDS
Pluronic 17R4 TDS
Pluronic L-35 SDS
PPG Speedhide 6-4310XI TDS
PPG US8026299B2
Rhodafac LO-529
Rodenburg 2015
Rule 1113
Shanahan 2015
Specialchem Pigments
Tamol 731A TDS
Tergitol 15-S-5 SDS
Triton X-45
UL Waterbased Colorants
Ultrapeg 1500
US20090149591A1
Valspar US10836910B2
Valspar US8242206B2
Valspar US9346028B2