Zephrym™ PD3315: improving dispersion performance for inorganic pigments
In paint and coatings formulations, achieving stable, highly loaded pigments dispersions is critical to colour development, processing efficiency, and final coating performance. Whether working with inorganic pigmentssuch as titanium dioxide (TiO2), iron oxide, or other mineral pigments, formulators often face the same challenge: as pigment loading increases, particles tend to agglomerate, driving up viscosity,reducing dispersion quality, and making the paint more difficult to manufacture and apply.
Zephrym™ PD3315 is a high-performance dispersant designed to address these challenges. Proven to deliver excellent dispersion performance in both aqueous and polar solvent systems, it helps reduce viscosity, improve particle size distribution and enhance dispersion stability across a range of demanding coatings applications.
In this article, we explore how Zephrym™ PD3315 can help manufacturers produce more consistent, high-performance dispersions while improving processing efficiency.
Why dispersion matters
High pigment loading is often desirable in paint and coatings formulations because it can improveopacity, colour strength, cost efficiency, and overall coating performance. However, increasing pigment concentration often leads to particle agglomeration.
When particles agglomerate, dispersion viscosity rises significantly, making mixing, pumping, milling, and application more difficult. Poor pigment dispersion can also result inreduced colour development, lower hiding power, gloss inconsistencies, and other coatings defects that impact both appearance and performance.
An effective dispersant helps overcome these issues by promoting pigment wetting, reducing interparticle attraction and maintaining a stable, well-dispersed system throughout manufacturing, storage, and application.
Proven performance in TiO2 dispersions
TiO2 is widely used as a white pigment in paints and coatings, but achieving stable, low-viscosity dispersions at high solids loadings can be challenging. As particle concentration increases, agglomeration can occur, leading to higher viscosity and more difficult processing.
Performance testing of TiO2 dispersions at 50 wt% solids loading in water demonstrated that Zephrym™ PD3315 delivers excellent dispersion efficiency, helping to achieve low-viscosity, highly loaded systems. Its strong wetting and stabilisation capabilities support improved particle separation and dispersion quality, even in demanding formulations.
— Zephrym PD3315 — Competitor B
Figure 1. Viscosity of TiO2 at 50 wt% in water at different active concentrations of Zephrym PD3315 and a competitor’s dispersant
These performance benefits can help formulators:
- Reduce viscosity in high-solids dispersions
- Improve flow and handling characteristics
- Support more efficient mixing and processing
- Maintain dispersion quality at low addition levels
- Enhance formulation consistency
For manufacturers seeking to optimise TiO2 dispersions, Zephrym™ PD3315 provides an effective solution for improving processability while supporting high-performance formulations
Performance beyond water-based systems
Traditionally paints and coatings have used solvents rather than water. To evaluate performance under these conditions, TiO2 dispersions were prepared in methyl ethyl ketone (MEK).
— Zephrym PD3315 0.33 wt% Active — No Dispersant
Figure 2. Particle distribution curves of 50 wt% TiO2 in MEK for no dispersant and 0.33 wt% active concentration of Zephrym PD3315
Testing showed that Zephrym™ PD3315 significantly narrowed the particle size distribution compared with an untreated system, demonstrating its ability to minimise particle agglomeration even in challenging solvent environments.
This versatility makes Zephrym™ PD3315 an attractive solution for formulators working across a broad range of applications where both aqueous and polar solvent compatibility are required.
Key benefits of Zephrym™ PD3315
Zephrym™ PD3315 offers a combination of performance and efficiency that can help formulators overcome common dispersion challenges:
- Effective in aqueous and polar solvent systems
- Reduces viscosity in highly loaded dispersions
- Delivers excellent particle wetting and stabilisation
- Helps prevent particle agglomeration
- Produces narrower particle size distributions
- Achieves strong performance at low use levels
- Is suitable for metal oxide and other mineral pigments
By enabling lower viscosity and improved particle control, Zephrym™ PD3315 can support more efficient manufacturing and help produce higher-performing paints and coatings.
Discover Zephrym™ PD3315
For manufacturers seeking a proven dispersant solution for inorganic pigments like, TiO2 and other mineral pigments, Zephrym™ PD3315 offers a powerful combination of performance, efficiency and versatility.
Ready to improve dispersion performance in your formulation?
Visit the Zephrym™ PD3315 product page to learn more about how this high-performance dispersant can help reduce viscosity, improve particle stability and support your manufacturing goals.
