Green to Grey Photochromic Pigment, UV Color Changing – KT-PMC-06-GG

Green to Grey Photochromic Pigment, UV Color Changing – KT-PMC-06-GG

Special Effect Pigments › Photochromic Pigment Series

KT-PMC-06-GG is a Green/Grey photochromic pigment in the fine 1–10μm particle size range — a UV-reactive pigment that appears green under standard indoor lighting and shifts to grey when exposed to direct sunlight or UV irradiation. Among the Kolortek photochromic range, KT-PMC-06-GG occupies a distinct design position: the green-to-grey transition is a cool, muted color shift — moving from a natural green tone toward a neutral grey rather than producing a dramatic high-chroma color change. This tonal character suits applications where a subtle, design-coherent UV response is preferred over maximum visual contrast.

Green-to-Grey — A Tonal Shift, Not a Color Family Change

The Kolortek photochromic range includes both high-contrast shifts (yellow/purple, green/red) and adjacent or tonal shifts. KT-PMC-06-GG is a tonal shift — green and grey share a cool, muted aesthetic, and the transition between them reads as a natural desaturation under UV rather than a stark color family change. For products positioned in outdoor, nature, or technical markets — apparel, sporting goods, functional accessories — this muted UV response fits product identity better than a highly saturated color shift would. The visual effect is still clearly perceptible, but it reads as sophisticated rather than novelty-forward.

Technical Specifications

Kolortek Two-Color Photochromic Series — Where Green/Grey Fits

Single-color activated grades (colorless-to-color) are also available: KT-PMC-12-PA (Purple), KT-PMC-14-BA (Blue), KT-PMC-16-YA (Yellow), KT-PMC-17-OA (Orange), KT-PMC-19-RA (Red), KT-PMC-22-GA (Green), KT-PMC-29-SB (Sky Blue) — all at 1–10μm. Contact Kolortek for the complete photochromic range.

Key Technical Characteristics

Green-to-grey — the only neutral-shift in the two-color photochromic range: Every other two-color photochromic grade in the Kolortek range shifts between two recognizable hue families. KT-PMC-06-GG is the exception — its UV-on state is grey, a neutral tone rather than a colored hue. This makes it the most tonally restrained option in the series. For products where the UV response needs to read as a technical or functional material behavior rather than as a novelty color effect, the green-to-grey shift provides a more understated expression of the photochromic function.

Both states are always visible — no substrate dependency: Like all two-color photochromic grades, KT-PMC-06-GG is visibly colored in both states — green indoors, grey outdoors. There is no colorless phase that requires a base coat reveal-layer design. This simplifies formulation compared to single-color activated grades (e.g., KT-PMC-22-GA, which is nearly colorless indoors and green in UV). For nail lacquer, coatings, and apparel applications, the green indoor color is a product feature in itself; the grey shift in sunlight is the UV-responsive overlay.

UV fatigue — the standard durability constraint for organic photochromic pigments: Organic photochromic molecules degrade with cumulative UV exposure, with switching efficiency and color depth in the activated state decreasing over time. For products with limited expected outdoor UV exposure — promotional items, seasonal accessories, nail lacquer with typical wear cycles — fatigue is unlikely to be a practical concern within the product lifecycle. For high-exposure outdoor applications — exterior coatings, performance apparel worn year-round — fatigue testing under your specific conditions establishes realistic service life expectations. Binder selection and UV management strategies affect fatigue rate significantly; contact Kolortek for guidance.

Kolortek has supplied photochromic pigments alongside its broader special effect pigment portfolio for over 20 years. The photochromic range covers 17 grades across single-color and two-color shift variants at 1–10μm, providing color matching flexibility for product development across the UV-reactive category. TDS and SDS are available on request for KT-PMC-06-GG.

Application Range

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is the green-to-grey shift of KT-PMC-06-GG clearly visible, or too subtle to notice?
A: The shift is perceptibly distinct — green and grey are recognizably different colors, and the transition from a medium green to a neutral grey in direct sunlight reads clearly to the eye. However, compared to high-contrast shifts like yellow-to-purple (KT-PMC-02-YP) or green-to-red (KT-PMC-07-GR), the green-to-grey transition is more tonally restrained. Whether this suits your product brief depends on your design intent. Request samples of KT-PMC-06-GG and adjacent grades to evaluate the shift character directly before specifying.

Q: How does KT-PMC-06-GG differ from KT-PMC-07-GR (Green/Red) for outdoor applications?
A: Both grades are green indoors. Under UV, KT-PMC-07-GR shifts to a highly saturated red — a high-contrast, high-visibility change that works well for novelty products, promotional items, and applications where the UV response needs to be immediately obvious. KT-PMC-06-GG shifts to grey — a muted, neutral tone that reads as a desaturation of the green rather than a color family change. For technical, nature, or design-forward outdoor products where subtlety is appropriate, KT-PMC-06-GG is the more suitable specification. For maximum UV-response visibility, specify KT-PMC-07-GR.

Q: Does the grey UV-on state look the same on all substrates?
A: Because KT-PMC-06-GG is a two-color grade (visibly colored in both states), the grey UV-on state is generated by the pigment itself and is not dependent on a reveal-layer base coat. However, the perceived grey shade will be influenced by the substrate color and the total ink or coating film transparency. Over a white substrate, the grey reads as a neutral medium grey. Over a dark or colored base, the grey may appear darker or more muted. Evaluate the UV-on color appearance over your actual substrate before production specification.

Request Samples or Technical Data

Photochromic shift character is best assessed in person under your actual UV conditions — the green-to-grey tonal shift of KT-PMC-06-GG reads differently in direct outdoor sunlight versus a UV lamp, and in different binder systems. Contact Kolortek to request a sample of KT-PMC-06-GG alongside other photochromic grades for direct comparison, download the TDS, or discuss the full photochromic range.