Interdependence of Lightness and Geometric Attributes in Metallic Color Systems

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box: 57131-14399, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Color Physics, Institute for Color, Science and Technology, P.O. Box: 16765-654, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of polymer and color, Amirkabir University of Technology, P.O. Box: 159163-4311, Tehran, Iran

10.30509/jcst.2025.167569.1261

Abstract

Metallic coatings are highly attractive due to their visual appeal and widespread use in various industries, particularly in automotive applications. However, their complex angle-dependent optical behavior poses challenges for accurate characterization. In this study, 308 Pantone metallic samples were systematically evaluated using a spectrophotometer, a goniospectrophotometer, a goniophotometer, and a gloss meter at various angles. The results revealed that specular gloss and Reflected Specular Peak (RSPEC) exert the most significant influence on lightness, while the distinctness of the image showed weak correlation in semi-matte samples. Overall, the findings highlight that combining geometrical attributes with lightness parameters offers a reliable approach for understanding and predicting the appearance of metallic coatings in industrial applications.

Keywords

Main Subjects


  1. Ferguson RL, Koleske JV. Metallic pigments. In: Paint and coating testing manual: 15th ed. Gardner-Sward handbook. Philadelphia: ASTM International; 2012.
  2. Kirchner E, Houweling J. Measuring flake orientation for metallic coatings. Prog Org Coat. 2009;64(2):287-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2008.08.023.
  3. Pelicon P, Klanjšek-Gunde M, Kunaver M, Simčič J, Budnar M, et al. Analysis of metallic pigments by ion microbeam. Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res B. 2002;190(1):370-4. https://doi. org/10.1016/S0168-583X(01)01213-7.
  4. Ciobanu RC, Aradoaei M, Caramitu AR, Lungu MV, Schreiner OD, Ion I. Composite paints with high content of metallic microparticles for electromagnetic shielding purposes. Coat. 2024;14:874. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14070874.
  5. McCamy CS. Observation and measurement of the appearance of metallic materials. Part I. Macro appearance. Color Res Appl. 1996;21(4):292-304. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1520-6378 (199608)21:4<292:AID-COL4>3.0.CO;2-L.
  6. ASTM. ASTM E284-49A. Standard terminology of appearance. West Conshohocken (PA): ASTM International; 1949.
  7. Bukshtab M. Methods of photometric and radiometric measurements. In: Applied photometry, radiometry, and measurements of optical losses. Dordrecht: Springer; 2012. p.49-128. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7745-6.
  8. PSA. PSA D25 1413. Paint coatings – Rubbers and plastics – Measurement of gloss. Paris: PSA; 2013.
  9. Kiyatkin Y, Mikhailov A. Color control of interference pigments dispersed in translucent media. Color Res Appl. 2002; 27(2):83-7. https://doi.org/10.1002/col.10032.
  10. CIE. CIE 038-1977. Radiometric and photometric charac-teristics of materials and their measurement. Vienna: Central Bureau of the CIE; 1977.
  11. Hunter S, Harold RW. The measurement of appearance. 2nd ed. New York: Wiley; 1987.
  12. Wyszecki G, Stiles WS. Color science. 2nd ed. New York: Wiley; 1988.
  13. Ji W, Pointer MR, Luo RM, Dakin J. Gloss as an aspect of the measurement of appearance. J Opt Soc Am A. 2006;23(1):22-33. https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAA.23.000022.
  14. Živković V. Gloss and gloss measurement. Color Res Appl. 2004;29(3):145-50.
  15. PSA Peugeot-Citroën. Revêtements de peintures: Mesure de peau d’orange et de netteté d’image. Paris: PSA; 2002.
  16. ASTM International. (1995). ASTM D5767-95: Standard Practice for Instrumental Measurement of Distinctness-of-Image Gloss of High-Gloss Surfaces. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM International.
  17. Lamborn J. Paint and surface coatings. New York: Wiley; 1988. https://doi.org/10.1002/pol.1988.140260505.
  18. Nadal M, Early E. Color measurements for pearlescent coatings. Color Res Appl. 2004;29(1):38-42. https://doi.org/ 10.1002/col.10210.
  19. Gabel P, Pfaff G. Characterisation of pearlescent pigments and special effect pigments. In: Colour technology of coatings. Hannover: Vincentz Network;2016.202-23. https://doi.org/ 10.1515/9783748600282-029.
  20. Ďurikovič R, Mihálik A. Metallic paint appearance measurement and rendering. J Appl Math Stat Inform. 2014; 9:25-39. https://doi.org/10.2478/jamsi-2013-0010.
  21. Germer T, Nadal M. Modeling the appearance of special effect pigment coatings. Proc SPIE Int Soc Opt Eng. 2001;4447:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.446721
  22. Eiseman L, Recker K. Pantone: The twentieth century in color. San Francisco: Chronicle Books; 2011.
  23. Bunda T, Simizu S, Haruki K, Isogai H, Shinada N, Sasaki Y, et al. Method in use to measure the metallic appearance. J Jpn Soc Colour Mater. 2012;43:375. https://doi.org/10.4011/shikizai 1937. 43.375.
  24. McCamy CS. Observation and measurement of the appearance of metallic materials. Part I. Macro appearance. Color Res Appl. 1996;21(4):292-303.
  25. David H. Alman. Meeting Report: Symposium on Color and Appearance Instrumentation, sponsored by the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology, Cleveland, Ohio. April 25-26, 1990.
  26. Kirchner E, Houweling J. Measuring flake orientation for metallic coatings. Prog Org Coat. 2009;64:287-93. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.porgcoat.2008.08.023
  27. Gerlinger H, et al. Farbmetrische Qualitätssicherung an metallic-Lackierungen in der Automobilindustrie. Qual Zuverl. 1987;32:1-5.
  28. Nadal ME, Edward A, Early E. Color measurements for pearlescent coatings. Color Res Appl. 2004;29(1):38-42. https://doi.org/10.1002/col.10210
  29. Wu M, Xu H, Wang Z, Li H. Towards a practical metric of surface gloss for metallic coatings from automotive industry. J Coat Technol Res. 2016;13(3):469-77. https://doi.org/10. 1007/ s11998-015-9771-3.
  30. Mirjalili F, Moradian S, Ameri F. Derivation of an instrumentally based geometric appearance index for the automotive industry. J Coat Technol Res. 2014;11(6):853-64. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-014-9608-5.
  31. Mohammadalizadeh A, et al. Effect of color on some geometric attributes of visual appearance of non-effect coatings. J Coat Technol Res. 2020;17(4):949-61. https://doi.org/10.1007 /s11998- 019-00315-1.
  32. Safi M, Ameri F, Ansari K. Specular gloss estimation by measuring the colorimetric data produced by a reflection measurement at 8° of incidence. Phys Scr. 2024;99(1):1-10. https://doi.org/10.1088/1402-4896/ad108a.
  33. ASTM. ASTM E1164. Standard practice for obtaining spectrometric data for object-color evaluation. West Conshohocken (PA): ASTM International; 2017.
  34. CIE. CIE Publication 15:2004. Colorimetry. Vienna: Central Bureau of the CIE; 2018.
  35. PSA. PSA D25 1413. Paint coatings-rubbers and plastics-gloss measurement. Paris: PSA; 2013.
  36. Hunter DH. Proc. of ISCC Williamsburg Conf. on Appearance. Williamsburg (VA); 1978.
  37. Vaclave S, et al. The preparation and characteristics of pigments based on mica coated with metal oxides. Dyes Pigments. 2003;53:239-44. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0143-7208(03)00086-X.