Pigment buyers approve lots on colour, strength and dispersion, and disputes are settled with numbers from the lab. Our pigments testing instruments give those numbers on standard test methods. As pigments testing instruments manufacturers in India and suppliers in India, we serve pigment plants, paint and ink factories and test labs.
The range follows the way a pigment is tested. Raw powder is checked for density, moisture and volatile matter and for coarse residue on the wet sieve test set. Oil absorption gives the demand for binder. The automatic muller and bead mill disperse the pigment into a vehicle, after which the grind gauge shows fineness and tinting strength is compared against a standard. The hiding power chart kit and spectrophotometer then provide opacity and colour difference, and the xenon tester ages samples for lightfastness.
A small pigment unit can begin with the grind gauge, oil absorption set and oven.
Last updated: November 2026
Gas or liquid pycnometer set that determines true density of pigment powders. Used in pigment manufacturing to verify product identity and compute volume solids in paints.
Hardened steel gauge with a tapering groove used to determine the fineness of dispersion of pigments in paints, inks and masterbatch pastes. Used in pigment, paint and ink QC.
Kit with black and white contrast charts and a film applicator for measuring hiding power of pigments in paint. Used by pigment producers and coatings labs.
Small batch horizontal bead mill that grinds pigment into binder to a set fineness. Used by paint, ink and masterbatch labs for trial formulations before production.
Xenon arc test chamber that exposes pigmented panels or plastic chips to light for fading assessment. Used by pigment and masterbatch makers to rate lightfastness on the blue wool scale.
Thermostatic drying oven for determining matter volatile at 105 deg C in pigment powders and extenders. Used in pigment QC as a basic purity check.
Rub-out plate, spatula and burette assembly for measuring oil absorption value of dry pigments and extenders. Used by pigment, paint and ink laboratories to predict binder demand of a pigment batch.
Automatic muller that disperses pigment in a vehicle under controlled load and fixed revolutions for tinting strength and shade comparison. Used by pigment manufacturers and paint and ink makers for batch approval.
Benchtop reflectance spectrophotometer that measures color of pigment powders, pastes and drawdowns across the visible spectrum. Used by pigment makers and paint and plastics colorists for shade matching and batch control.
Wet sieving assembly used to find coarse residue left on a 45 micron sieve after washing pigment slurries. Used by pigment producers as a grit and dispersibility check.
| Function | Products | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Powder properties | Density Pycnometer and Specific Gravity Bottle Set for Pigments, Moisture and Volatile Matter Test Oven for Pigments, Wet Sieve Residue Test Set for Pigments, Oil Absorption Test Apparatus for Pigments and Extenders | Pycnometer volume, oven temperature range, sieve aperture such as 45 micron, and burette or plate sizes in the oil absorption set. |
| Dispersion and tinting | Laboratory Bead Mill for Pigment Dispersion, Pigment Tinting Strength Tester with Automatic Muller, Dispersion Fineness of Grind Gauge for Pigment Pastes | Muller load and plate diameter, bead mill batch volume, grind gauge range in microns or Hegman units. |
| Colour and opacity | Spectrophotometer for Pigment Color Measurement, Hiding Power and Opacity Test Chart Apparatus | Measurement geometry, aperture size, illuminant and observer options, and film applicator width for hiding power charts. |
| Durability | Lightfastness and Weathering Tester for Pigmented Samples | Lamp type and irradiance control, number of panel positions, temperature and humidity range of the chamber. |
Pigment instruments characterise the colourant: how strongly it tints, how much binder it absorbs, how fine its dispersion is and how it fades. Compound resin instruments characterise the polymer or compound it goes into, using rheometers, TGA and OIT. Masterbatch makers buy from both groups, and share common equipment such as drying ovens and sieve shakers.
See also: Compound Resin Testing Instruments
The complete Pigments Testing Instruments range (10 products), in alphabetical order:
Choose the range that matches your product, for example 0 to 25, 0 to 50 or 0 to 100 microns, and confirm the scale reads in microns or Hegman units. The gauge should be hardened steel with a flat, polished groove and a matching scraper. Ask for a flatness certificate as this controls the accuracy of readings in the ISO 1524 method.
For pigments in plastics, paints and inks, a benchtop d/8 reflectance instrument with a sufficiently large aperture is standard. Check wavelength range, repeatability in delta E, available illuminants and whether software holds tolerance limits against a standard. Calibration tiles and a port for powder or paste samples matter for repeatable work.
A smooth rub-out plate, spatula, burette and a defined linseed oil are used in the ISO 787-5 style method. Check the plate size, spatula type and burette volume. The test depends on operator technique, so a consistent procedure and a reference pigment help compare different people and shifts.
Organic and inorganic pigment manufacturers, masterbatch and ink makers, paint and coating factories, ceramic and cosmetic colour suppliers, plastic compounders and independent colour test labs. A typical first order contains the grind gauge, oil absorption set, drying oven and spectrophotometer, with the bead mill and weathering unit added for development work.
Tinting strength compares how much colour a pigment gives when mixed with a white base against a reference sample. A stronger pigment needs less quantity for the same shade, so it directly affects cost for the paint or plastic maker.
Coarse particles or agglomerates cause grit, poor gloss and weak colour. The grind gauge shows the point at which scratches appear in a drawn-down film, and it gives a quick pass or fail for dispersion quality.
Hiding power is tested by applying a film of defined thickness over a black and white chart and comparing contrast or measuring spreading rate to cover. The result relates to opacity, and it is used in paint and ink specifications.
Yes. Our instruments are made in India and supplied across the country and abroad, with specification sheets suitable for tenders. We can coordinate delivery and, where needed, installation at your plant.
A weighed pigment slurry is washed through a 45 micron sieve, and the residue is dried and weighed. Coarse particles left behind indicate poor milling or contamination and may cause defects in the coating.
Civil Mechanical India is an established manufacturer and supplier for tender requirements from India, handling civil laboratory and industrial testing tenders and bulk and OEM orders for mechanical engineering and testing laboratory equipment. On receipt of your tender specifications, we will submit a complete quotation for Pigments Testing Instruments.
Send us your equipment list or tender specification. We quote against IS, BS, EN, ASTM and AASHTO standards and ship to 90+ countries.
