The non color role of pigment in PC coating selections.

[prs]

Have any of us looked into the role played by the pigment in powder paint beyond color? That is, would the coating be tougher, more durable, more easily applied without pigment? Or is the pigment component also a structural component like polymer chains or fibers reinforcing the "vehicle" component. If the latter, are some pigment components superior to others? My intuition seems to have let me to believe the glossier coatings are tougher and more adherent than the flatter or matt finishes, but I have done not testing to support that conjecture.

Rooster

[Freightman]

I like Smokes clear slicker than snot.

[1911KY]

From my experience dry tumbling, the clear PC coats much better than any color I have used. I think the added pigment decreases the PC reaction to static. No definitive testing done, just my observations.

[Freightman]

Same observation, Smokes clear and his Aluminum are my favorite powders. They seem to coat with less effort and one coat is great.

[Smoke4320]

I can tell you that the coloring is added JUST for that purpose.. Now do some colors somehow add toughness to the Clear ? All I can tell you is I have shot many of the colors in identical loads and could not see any difference in the end results .. They all hit in the same approx. area and made nice clean holes..
Did I push each color to its max... sorry no I did not ...found an accurate load (usually at or close to the bottom end of jacketed load data) ..stuck with it .. tested and was satisfied with the results
May not answer all your questions but that is some results I can give you

[bangerjim]

Several "doubting Thomas's" on here claim pigments (especially matte colors) "eat up thier barrels". Yet there is absolutely ZERO definitive proof of that occurance over the time we have all been doing PC. Mabe someday??

I use HF red, white, yellow, and black and Smoke's blue......all with excellent success with ESPC and BBDT (not matte!). You can lookup the MSDS's on powders to learn what the pigment constituents are and if YOU think there is any problem. I see none in any of my barrels.

Personally I have no interest in coating my boolits with a clear coating. I like Technicolor!

But whatever color you choose.......HAVE a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

bangerjim

[Gunslingerdoc]

With paints, polyurethane I think I recall being told by a paint guru that the glossier the finish the more durable and the finish was harder. I wonder if that's the same with PC

[bangerjim]

If the "hammer test" is any indication, they ALL are extremely durable. I can take a 45 220g coated slug (with either matte black or gloss) and pound it to ~1/4" thick nose to base and then pound it side to side into a perfet square! And the PC is still there.....100% coverage. Now that is an impact test. After that, the PC will not flake or scratch off. Amazing stuff.

banger

[prs]

Excellent responses. I am not a bit concerned about barrel erosion. If it ever does pan out that barrel erosion is a problem, well, barrels are not that expensive. Folks who have seen my boolits Oh and Ahhh over the color, but I could care less about that now that the novelty has worn off. I can see some of Smoke's clear in my near future.

prs

[Freightman]

I use the same colors Jim does with the same results i got Smokes sample pack, and have 5-6# of HF powder have literately shot 10's of 1000's of coated boolits and see no harm to the barrel with any color. I like the no mess in my dies, I have pushed my 30-06 to max and my Tokarev 7.62x25 also but found that accuracy leaves about lowed middle of smokeless loads.

[Smoke4320]

I can see some of Smoke's clear in my near future.

prs

OH, I see right thru this one young padawan

Sorry just could not resist ..trying to have some humor

I be here... just let me know and I will get a shipment your way

PS Thanks guys for all the kind words last few weeks been kind of rough