In high-performance coatings, color is not just a finishing touch. It is a functional component of your system. Whether you’re formulating epoxy floor coatings, polyaspartic topcoats, or fast-set polyureas, your pigment strategy directly impacts durability, cure behavior, and visual consistency.

For coatings professionals at all levels, from new formulation chemists to senior technical directors, using the right kind of colorant dispersion is critical. And not all colorant dispersions are created equal.

The Real Cost of Traditional Pigment Dispersion

Formulating with raw pigments is a time-consuming process. Even when you master the mechanics of dispersion, you are still left managing the risks:

  • Agglomeration and poor color development
  • Inconsistent film appearance
  • Settling during storage
  • Variability in gloss, hardness, and UV stability

These issues are amplified in 2K high-performance systems, where every component must work synergistically to deliver fast cure, chemical resistance, and long-term film integrity.

Pre-Dispersed Colorants: A Smarter Approach

Pre-dispersed colorants offer an immediate upgrade to formulation efficiency. They save time, eliminate dispersion variables, and provide clean, stable, repeatable results. But there’s a critical detail often overlooked.

The carrier system inside the colorant paste matters. A lot. Colorant pastes (also called pigment dispersions) are made of three core components:

  • Pigment (colorant)
  • Carrier (the liquid medium for dispersion)
  • Additives (for stabilization, flow, and compatibility)

The carrier is what determines whether the colorant paste is reactive or non-reactive, and this distinction significantly affects final coating performance.

Non-Reactive Carriers

Non-reactive carriers are chemically inert liquids that do not participate in the curing or crosslinking reaction of the coating system. These are typically solvents, plasticizers, or low-viscosity resins that are chosen for their ability to help wet pigments and stabilize dispersions.

Common examples:

  • Benzyl alcohol
  • Dibutyl phthalate
  • Mineral spirits
  • Plasticizer-type polyols or esters

Problems with non-reactive carriers:

  • Plasticizing effect: These materials remain in the film after cure, softening the coating and reducing hardness, abrasion resistance, and chemical resistance.
  • Sluggish cure: They dilute the reactive content of the system, slowing down the crosslinking process.
  • Residual tack: Some coatings may feel slightly sticky or undercured due to the non-reactive load in the film.
  • Poor long-term stability: Over time, the presence of non-reactive materials can lead to yellowing, brittleness, or other degradation.

Reactive Carriers

Reactive carriers are chemically active components that are designed to co-react with the base resin or hardener during cure. They integrate into the final polymer network, effectively becoming part of the cured film.

Examples of reactive carrier systems:

  • Epoxy resins (for epoxy systems)
  • Polyaspartic esters (for aliphatic polyurea systems)
  • Functionalized polyols or amines (matched to the coating chemistry)

Advantages of reactive carriers:

  • Zero plasticization: Because the carrier reacts into the matrix, there is no dilution of mechanical or chemical properties.
  • Faster and more complete cure: The colorant paste contributes to the crosslink density, supporting robust film formation.
  • Improved film properties: Higher hardness, better solvent resistance, improved gloss retention, and no residual tack.
  • System synergy: The carrier matches the chemistry of the coating, enhancing flow, leveling, and long-term durability.

Why This Matters in High-Performance Coatings

In systems like polyaspartic topcoats, 100 percent solids epoxy coatings, and fast-set polyureas, every part of the formulation is designed for extreme performance under demanding conditions. Introducing an inert carrier into these systems reduces the overall effectiveness of your formulation.

By contrast, using Pflaumer’s TERACHEM® reactive colorant pastes ensures:

  • No compromise to your resin’s intended properties
  • No side effects like extended cure or tackiness
  • Full performance potential from colorant to cured film

What Makes Pflaumer’s TERACHEM® Colorants Different

Pflaumer’s TERACHEM® line of pre-dispersed colorants is not just another pigment paste. These are reactive colorant pastes, formulated using carrier systems that become part of the curing network. That means:

  • No plasticizing effect
  • No slowdown in cure response
  • No sacrifice in hardness, chemical resistance, or film integrity

You get full compatibility with your resin chemistry, improved throughput, and better end-use properties. That’s the difference a reactive colorant system makes.

TERACHEM® Families at a Glance:

  • TERACHEM® 53-2000 – Pre-dispersed colorants for polyaspartics with excellent weatherability
  • TERACHEM® 53-4000 – Epoxy-compatible colorants for flooring, marine, and industrial coatings
  • TERACHEM® 53-6000 – Universal 2K-compatible colorants for urethanes, epoxies, and acrylics
  • TERACHEM® 53-8000 – Tailored for polyurea, urethane, and polymer concrete applications

These colorants are developed specifically for use in high-solids and fast-reacting systems where performance cannot be compromised by inert filler materials.

From Formulation to Application

Pflaumer’s commitment to coating chemistry goes beyond supplying color. We work with formulators, production teams, and technical directors to ensure our reactive colorant pastes perform in the lab, in the plant, and in the field.

The result? Cleaner formulas, faster cure, better films… and fewer headaches.

Experience the performance of reactive colorant technology.

Request TERACHEM® samples and see the difference for yourself. https://pflaumer.com/sample-page/