Iriodin 353 Flash Red Gold Equivalent KT-353 Pearlescent Pigment

KT-353 belongs to Kolortek's KT-300 Gold Series — pearlescent pigments built on natural mica substrates coated with titanium dioxide, iron oxide, and tin oxide. The combination of these metal oxide layers is what drives the characteristic red-gold interference color and that distinctive flash behavior under directional light.

Compared to conventional copper gold powder, this pigment offers noticeably better transparency and a glossier finish. That's a meaningful difference in applications like clear epoxy pours or translucent nail gels, where metallic opacity would undermine the visual effect entirely.

Worth noting: the KT-300 Series uses natural mica as the base. For applications with more demanding chemical resistance or brightness requirements — or where synthetic substrate is specified — the KT-7300 Series offers a synthetic mica equivalent with the same color family.

Product Series Overview

The particle size range of 10–100 μm covers a broad working window. Finer cuts within this range are preferred for printing and cosmetic applications; coarser distributions deliver more pronounced flash in floor coatings and cast resin work.

Applications

KT-353 is used across a wide range of substrates and systems. The most common include:

• Cosmetics — eyeshadow compacts, highlighters, body shimmer, and lip formulations where warm gold tones are specified
• Nail products — gel polishes, powder dips, and nail lacquers; the transparency of this pigment works well in clear or tinted bases
• Soaps and bath products — melt-and-pour soap bases, where mica-based pigments disperse cleanly
• Printing inks — offset, gravure, and screen printing at finer particle distributions
• Epoxy flooring — decorative metallic floor systems, particularly in residential and commercial interior applications
• Crafts and DIY resin — candle making, resin art, slime, and hobby casting
• Countertops and artificial marble — cast polymer and engineered stone surfaces requiring warm metallic depth

In practice, the particle size selected for a given application depends heavily on the coating thickness, the resin viscosity, and the desired visual intensity. Thinner systems — inks, nail gels — benefit from the finer end of the range. Thicker pours like epoxy countertops allow coarser particles to orient and maximize flash.

Key Characteristics

• Flash red gold color: Warm, saturated gold with a red interference shift — the defining characteristic of the 353 color position
• High transparency: Maintains substrate visibility and depth, unlike opaque metallic powders
• Glossy luster: Specular reflectance is high; the surface reads as genuinely metallic under most lighting conditions
• Third-dimension effect: Light interaction across the platelet creates visual depth that flat pigments cannot replicate
• Blendable: Can be mixed with other effect pigments or colorants to shift the gold tone or create custom effects — provided the blending ratios are accurately controlled
• Natural mica base (KT-353): Compatible with most resin systems; standard handling for mica-based pearlescents applies

Practical Formulation Considerations

Dispersion technique matters. Pearlescent pigments with platelet morphology are shear-sensitive — high-speed mixing or prolonged milling will fracture the platelets and reduce both brightness and flash intensity. Gentle incorporation using low-shear mixers or manual dispersion is standard practice.

In coating and ink systems, loading levels typically run between 2–10% by weight depending on the desired coverage and system transparency. Higher loadings in transparent systems build depth; lower loadings in opaque or pigmented bases are used for tinting effects.

Compatibility is generally broad — KT-353 works in waterborne, solvent-borne, UV-cure, and two-component systems. That said, the formulator should verify stability in highly alkaline systems, as prolonged exposure at extreme pH can affect the metal oxide coating layers.

For cosmetic applications specifically, the pigment carries REACH compliance and has been tested under SGS and TÜV SÜD protocols. MSDS, TDS, and COA documentation is available on request — standard requirement for any cosmetic or personal care supply chain.

KT-353 vs. Iriodin 353 — A Direct Comparison

For procurement teams evaluating merck iriodin equivalents, KT-353 provides a technically comparable specification with the added flexibility of a synthetic mica variant and direct manufacturer support for sample validation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is KT-353 a direct drop-in replacement for Iriodin 353 in existing formulations?
A: In most cases, yes. The color position, particle size range, and base chemistry are aligned. That said, we recommend running a batch validation — particularly in color-sensitive cosmetic applications — before full production switchover. Sample quantities are available for this purpose.

Q: Can KT-353 be used in cosmetic and personal care products?
A: Yes. The pigment is REACH-compliant and has been evaluated under SGS and TÜV SÜD protocols. Full documentation including MSDS, TDS, and COA is available. For regulated markets, verify the local cosmetic ingredient list requirements before formulating.

Q: What's the difference between KT-353 (natural mica) and the KT-7353 (synthetic mica) version?
A: The color and effect are similar, but synthetic mica offers higher brightness, better whiteness in the base, and improved chemical resistance. It's also preferred in some premium cosmetic lines where natural mineral sourcing is flagged. The KT-353 natural mica version is typically the cost-effective standard option.

Q: What particle size should I specify for printing versus epoxy flooring?
A: For printing applications — particularly gravure or offset — request the finer cut within the 10–100 μm range to avoid clogging and ensure smooth ink flow. For epoxy floor systems or resin casting, the full range or coarser distribution delivers better flash intensity and visual impact. Kolortek can supply specific particle size distributions based on application requirements.

Request Samples or Technical Documentation

If you're evaluating KT-353 as a sourcing alternative or qualifying it against an existing specification, the practical next step is a sample run. Kolortek supplies samples with full technical documentation — TDS, MSDS, COA — and can provide formulation guidance for specific application systems.

Contact the technical team directly at contact@kolortek.com with your application details and any existing reference specifications.