Jaelene Matos, Orion S.A.’s technical marketing manager for Coatings in the Americas, discusses key formulation challenges when working with carbon black and explains how proper dispersion strategies and material compatibility are critical to achieving high-performance coatings. This interview with Jaelene was published in the May 5, 2026, edition of “The Show and Conference Daily” publication circulated at the AC Show in Indianapolis, Indiana.
What are the most common dispersion challenges formulators face when incorporating carbon blacks into high-performance coatings, and how can they best be addressed?
High-performance coatings rely on small, high-surface-area carbon blacks to achieve the strongest colorimetric properties. The challenge is that these specialty pigments are harder to disperse, can increase viscosity and tend to re-agglomerate if not properly stabilized. Using high-shear equipment, a well-designed mill base, and the right wetting and dispersing additives helps break down agglomerates and keep the carbon black stable so performance isn’t compromised.
What are the biggest technical hurdles when designing carbon blacks for modern waterborne coatings?
Water is a highly polar solvent with high surface tension, which makes it difficult to adequately wet carbon blacks that are naturally hydrophobic. Because there is little inherent affinity between the pigment surface and the aqueous medium, effective wetting and dispersing additives are essential in waterborne coatings to achieve proper dispersion.
How do low-VOC and solvent-free formulation trends change the performance profile required from carbon blacks? Carbon black does not significantly contribute to VOCs in a coating formulation, and there are no requirements for special grades of carbon black for low-VOC coatings. Instead, proper selection of low-VOC resins and dispersants, optimized for the chosen carbon black, provides compatibility and improved wetting, dispersion and stabilization in these systems.
What interactions between carbon black, dispersant and resin are especially important in waterborne systems?
Compatibility between the carbon black, dispersant and resin is crucial to avoiding re-agglomeration and flocculation in waterborne systems. The most important factor is ensuring that the dispersant adsorbs strongly onto the carbon black surface. This strong adsorption provides the electrostatic repulsion and steric hindrance needed to keep particles separated and maintain a stable dispersion.
At the show, Jaelene also gave a presentation about conductive carbons.
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