KT-97543 Chameleon Mica Powder Blue/Violet for resin

What KT-97543 Does in Resin

Chameleon pigments work by interference, not absorption. KT-97543 carries a multi-layer coating — TiO₂, Fe₂O₃, silica and other metal oxides stacked over a natural mica core — and the thickness of those layers determines which wavelengths reinforce at a given viewing angle. Tilt the part and the peak wavelength walks through the spectrum. For this grade the travel runs blue to violet, which is a narrower shift than the triple-color 97000 and 98000 sub-series, and that's usually an advantage in resin: duochrome reads as depth rather than novelty.

The mica substrate is what gives the cast surface its movement. Suspended in a clear resin matrix, individual platelets orient at slightly different angles through the thickness of the casting, so a single part shows a continuous gradient rather than one flat color. That property is why this material is chosen for cast pieces, domed parts, and anything viewed in the round — a flat panel loses most of the effect, a three-dimensional form amplifies it.

Technical Characteristics

Values below come from our KT-97543 technical data sheet. Where we don't have a published figure, we say so rather than estimate.

Using Chameleon Mica Powder for Resin Casting

Epoxy and UV resins are forgiving matrices for interference pigments, but three things decide whether the result looks right or looks muddy.

1. The base layer matters more than the loading

Chameleon and duochrome mica powders are translucent in effect — they modify light bouncing back from whatever sits behind them. Over a white or light substrate, transmitted light washes out the interference and the shift nearly disappears. Over black, the interference peak is the only thing coming back to the eye, which is where the blue-to-violet travel becomes obvious. The practical sequence for cast work: black base layer first, let it cure or gel, then pour the pigment-loaded resin over it. Adding black pigment directly into the same resin as the mica works too, but it flattens the effect — you're absorbing light that would otherwise reflect off the platelets.

2. Loading and dispersion

For resin art and castings we work in the 1–10% by weight range, adjusting for the size of the piece and how opaque the effect needs to be. Thicker pigment loading increases the perceived color shift but can start to affect surface smoothness in thin pours, so there's a practical ceiling. Pre-mix the powder into a small aliquot of resin first — a teaspoon of resin to the full pigment charge — and stir it to a smooth paste before adding it to the main batch. Dropping dry powder straight into a large batch leaves agglomerates that never fully wet out, and those show up as dull streaks in the cured part.

Stir slowly. This is the one processing point that comes up in every conversation we have with resin customers: entrapped air next to a pearl platelet is highly visible, because the platelet reflects into a bubble and the bubble scatters in all directions. Slow, folded mixing, a short dwell time before pouring, and a vacuum or pressure pot where the piece allows it will do more for appearance than any change in loading. With UV resin on fast cures, the same logic applies — mix, then rest, then pour.

3. Tuning the shift with absorption pigments

KT-97543 can be combined with transparent absorption pigments to move the base color and narrow or widen the apparent shift range. A small amount of transparent violet or blue can deepen the glancing-angle color; a touch of transparent red pulls the highlight warmer. Keep additions small and test in the actual resin system — absorption pigments change the transmitted spectrum that the mica layers are working against, and the interaction isn't always intuitive.

Where This Grade Fits

Within the KT-9000 Magic Chameleon Series, grades are grouped by shift type and particle size. KT-97543 sits in the duochrome group at 30–115 μm — coarse enough for visible sparkle in a casting, fine enough to still distribute evenly in a thin pour. Finer grades in the series (10–40 μm, 10–60 μm) suit spraying and thinner films where a 115 μm top end would be too coarse.

Beyond resin, the series is used across automotive custom finishes and wraps, high-end cosmetics and nail art, luxury packaging and printing, security printing, and decorative coatings such as motorcycle helmets and sporting goods. With a weatherproof coating system, chameleon grades go into automotive and architectural applications. Compatible pigment systems for automotive and exterior coating work typically want a clear topcoat to protect the pigment and build depth.

Compliance and Documentation

We'd rather be plain about this than let a buyer assume coverage we can't document for a specific grade.

• Heavy metal limits on this grade: As < 2 ppm, Hg < 1 ppm, Cd < 3 ppm, Pb < 10 ppm, Ba < 50 ppm, Ni < 10 ppm, Cu < 50 ppm, Zn < 50 ppm, Cr < 100 ppm, Sb < 1 ppm.
• CLP Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 classification: not classified. Directive 67/548/EEC and Directive 1999/45/EC: not classified.
• Our ISO 9001:2015 certificate covers production and sales of glitters, pigments and fillers at company level.
• REACH registration in hand covers fluorphlogopite (synthetic mica). KT-97543 is based on natural mica (C.I. 77019), so it needs its own product-specific confirmation — ask us and we'll provide it for your grade and destination market.
• Cosmetic-grade options and supporting composition documents under EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 are available for grades formulated to that scope. KT-97543's data sheet does not state cosmetic-grade status, so for skin-contact craft work specify a cosmetic-grade material rather than assuming it. If you're buying for the EU cosmetic market, confirm the grade at inquiry stage.
• Grades formulated to meet applicable US colour-additive requirements are available. Establishment registration is not FDA approval, and it doesn't extend to every grade.
• Halal and Kosher certifications are scoped to listed food-grade and edible products — the current product attachment has to be checked before any model-specific claim.
• TDS available for this grade; SDS ships with all orders; regulatory documentation packages on request.

Handling and Storage

Avoid breathing dust and avoid dust accumulation in the workspace. Store in a well-ventilated place. Wear gloves, eye protection, and an approved dust mask where dust is generated; an apron and boots are sensible for bulk handling. On skin contact, wash with plenty of water. On eye contact, flush with gently flowing fresh water and get medical advice if irritation persists. If inhaled, move to fresh air and rest.

We don't have a published shelf life or a numeric lightfastness rating for KT-97543 in our current data. The series is built on inorganic colorants — iron oxide and metal oxides — which is where the light and weather resistance of the KT-9000 range comes from. For exterior or long-service-life programs, tell us the exposure conditions and the coating system, and we'll advise based on the closest tested configuration rather than a generic figure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use KT-97543 chameleon epoxy pigment in a casting?

Load 1–10% by weight of the resin, pre-mixed into a small aliquot of resin before adding to the full batch. Pour over a cured black base layer — the blue-to-violet shift is barely visible on white or light substrates. Mix slowly to avoid bubbles, which are especially obvious near pearl platelets.

What particle size is KT-97543 and does it matter for resin?

KT-97543 runs 30–115 μm with a D50 of 46–58 μm. That's a mid-to-coarse grade: it produces distinctly visible sparkle and orientates well through the thickness of a casting. In very thin pours or where a smooth, fine-grained appearance is wanted, a finer grade such as the 10–40 μm option in the KT-9000 series is a better fit.

Does this duochrome mica powder work in UV resin as well as epoxy?

Yes — the KT-9000 series is compatible with most resin systems, and our resin guide covers both epoxy and UV resin with the same 1–10% loading range. UV resin cures fast, so mix fully before adding photoinitiator-triggered cure time pressure, and give the batch a short dwell to let air escape before pouring.

Is KT-97543 a cosmetic-grade pigment?

The KT-97543 data sheet does not state cosmetic-grade status, so we don't present it as such. For nail art, cosmetic, or any skin-contact application, specify a cosmetic-grade grade and we'll supply the composition documentation you need under EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 for the grade and market in question.

Tell us your resin system, pour thickness, and target viewing angle, and we'll recommend the right KT-9000 grade and loading for it — or write to contact@kolortek.com.