In the coatings industry, aluminium paste for paint is a type of metallic pigment widely used in industrial coatings and decorative paints, providing high reflectivity and metallic texture effects. For engineers involved in formulation development or purchasing decisions, the selection of such materials is not merely a matter of "color effect", but a crucial technical decision involving system compatibility, dispersion stability, and the final performance of the coating.

During actual production, we often encounter problems such as unstable dispersion of aluminium paste, resulting in agglomeration or sedimentation. It has poor adaptability in high-solid content or low-VOC systems. With the continuous improvement of environmental protection regulations, water-based aluminium paste is gradually becoming an important alternative to traditional solvent-based products. This article will provide you with a detailed introduction to the types, applications, and how to select a suitable aluminium paste for paint.

What is Aluminium Paste for Paint?

In the coatings industry, aluminium paste for paint is a type of metallic pigment widely used in industrial coatings and decorative paints, providing high reflectivity and metallic texture effects. For engineers involved in formulation development or purchasing decisions, the selection of such materials is not merely a matter of "color effect", but a crucial technical decision involving system compatibility, dispersion stability, and the final performance of the coating.

During actual production, we often encounter problems such as unstable dispersion of aluminium paste, resulting in agglomeration or sedimentation. It has poor adaptability in high-solid content or low-VOC systems. 

With the continuous improvement of environmental protection regulations, water-based aluminium paste is gradually becoming an important alternative to traditional solvent-based products. This article will provide you with a detailed introduction to the types, applications, and how to select a suitable aluminium paste for paint.

Types of Aluminium Paste for Paint

In the paint industry, aluminium paste for paint is not a single product. Instead, it is a functional pigment system that is classified based on the sheet structure, surface treatment method, dispersion medium, and arrangement behavior in the coating.

Different types of aluminium pastes will directly affect the metallic effect, weather resistance, dispersion stability, and construction compatibility of the final coating. Therefore, in the process of formula design and procurement, correct selection of types is a crucial step. 

1.Classified by coating type: 

Leafing Aluminium Paste

The Leafing aluminum paste refers to a type of product where aluminum sheets tend to migrate and align on the surface of the coating during the curing process of the paint due to surface treatment and interfacial tension.

Characteristics: The aluminum sheets are concentrated on the surface of the coating, creating a strong metallic reflection effect. It has strong barrier property and excellent decorative performance.

Typical applications:

• Decorative coatings
• Some protective industrial coatings
• Systems requiring a high reflective appearance

Technical limitations:

• Weak adhesion (due to concentration in the surface layer)
• Limited scrub resistance
• Not suitable for systems requiring high durability 

Non-Leafing Aluminium Paste

Non-leafing aluminum paste, through surface treatment, enables the aluminum sheets to be evenly dispersed and embedded within the internal structure of the coating, rather than concentrating on the surface. The aluminum sheets are evenly distributed throughout the coating, giving a more "deep" metallic effect. It combines with the resin system more tightly, balancing both decorative and functional aspects.

Typical applications:

• Automotive coatings (especially primer/mid-coat systems)
• Industrial protective coatings
• High durability coating systems

Technical advantages:

• Better adhesion
• Stronger weather resistance
• Higher coating stability

2.Classified by dispersion medium 

Solvent-Based Aluminium Paste

The traditional aluminum paste system using organic solvents as the dispersion medium. The dispersion stability is mature, the metal effect is easy to control, and it is suitable for various traditional coating systems.

Advantages:

• Stable process
• Low cost
• Mature industrial application history

Limitations:

• High VOC emissions
• High pressure from environmental regulations (especially in the EU market)
• Gradually being replaced 

Water-Based Aluminium Paste

An environmentally friendly aluminum paste system using water as the dispersing medium and preventing aluminum particles from oxidizing through special surface treatment technology. Aluminum has high chemical activity in water environments. Therefore, water-based aluminum pigment must address issues such as control of oxidation reactions, hydrogen evolution, long-term dispersion stability, pH compatibility with resin systems.

Technical advantages:

• Low VOC emissions
• Compliant with environmental regulations (EU/high-end market)
• Safer production and construction environment

Application trends:

• Industrial water-based coatings
• Environmental-friendly building coatings
• Green manufacturing system (low-carbon coatings)

Applications of aluminium paste for paint in Paint Industry

In the modern coatings industry, aluminium paste for paint has evolved from the traditional "metal decorative pigment" to an industrial material system with both functional and structural properties.

The expansion of its application scope is essentially due to the flake orientation structure formed by aluminium sheets in the coating. This microstructure not only affects the appearance but also directly determines the protective performance, weather resistance and optical properties of the coating. 

1.Automotive Coatings

In the automotive industry, aluminium paste is one of the core materials for metal-effect coatings. Non-leafing aluminium paste is the mainstream choice in the automotive sector. 

It is widely used in:

• Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) coatings
• Repair coatings (refinish coatings)
• Decorative finish layers 

2.Industrial Protective Coatings

The aluminum sheets are arranged parallelly in the coating, forming a structure similar to a "layered barrier", effectively preventing moisture ingress, oxygen diffusion and chemical corrosive media. In the industrial protection system, aluminum paste can effectively increase the corrosion resistance life of the coating, enhance the rust prevention performance and improve the adaptability to harsh environments.

It is widely used in:

• Steel structure protective coating
• Construction machinery painting
• Marine environment anti-corrosion system
• Storage tank and pipeline coating 

3.Architectural Coatings

In architectural coatings, aluminium paste is mainly used to enhance the visual effect and modern design. It can provide a metallic aesthetic finish, improving the reflection effect and texture of the building surface.

The requirements for aluminium paste in building systems are relatively diverse: for example, the particle size can be adjusted (fine / coarse grade), color stability and resistance to ultraviolet aging.

It is widely used in:

• Exterior metal coatings
• Decorative curtain wall coatings
• Surface treatment of high-end commercial buildings 

4.Marine & Heavy-duty Coatings

In the marine environment, the coating system is exposed to the most severe corrosion conditions. Therefore, the aluminum paste mainly serves to shield and delay corrosion. Typically, non-leafing aluminum paste is used to enhance structural stability.

The requirements for the performance of the aluminum paste in this field are extremely high:

• A highly stable dispersion system
• Excellent salt spray resistance
• Compatibility with epoxy/polyurethane systems 

5.Water-Based Coatings

With the tightening of global VOC regulations, the water-based system has become one of the fastest-growing application directions for aluminium paste. Water-based aluminium paste is used in:

• Industrial water-based coatings
• Environmental-friendly building coatings
• Low-VOC decorative coatings
• Green manufacturing systems

Technical Specification of Aluminium Paste for Paint

In industrial coating systems, the performance of aluminium paste for paint is defined not only by its chemical composition but more critically by its particle morphology, dispersion behavior, and stability parameters. These specifications directly determine metallic appearance, application performance, and long-term coating reliability.

Below is a typical technical specification overview used in industrial procurement and formulation design.

How to Choose Aluminium Paste for Paint

In the process of coating formula design and industrial procurement, the selection of aluminium paste for paint is not a simple "model comparison issue", but rather a systematic engineering decision involving coating structure design, dispersion system matching, terminal performance targets, and environmental compliance requirements.

Different types of aluminium pastes exhibit completely different metallic effects, stability behaviors, and interface compatibility in the coating. If the selection is inappropriate, even if it performs well in the laboratory stage, it may encounter problems such as delamination, pitting, or performance failure during industrial production.

1.Selection starts from application

Before selecting the aluminum paste, the final target performance of the coating system must be defined, rather than choosing the product type directly.

Usually, the following four core issues need to be clarified:

• Coating application: decorative or protective
• Usage environment: indoor / outdoor / highly corrosive environment
• Appearance requirements: high-gloss mirror finish / deep metallic feel / matte metal
• Life cycle: short-term decoration or long-term weather resistance

In industrial practice, this is the most often overlooked but most crucial step.

2. Select based on key technical parameters

In industrial procurement, the product parameters must be matched with the formulation requirements:

Industrial experience indicates that: particle size + surface treatment = the core control variables of metal performance.

3.Application-driven selection

The selection logic varies significantly across different industrial fields:

• Automotive coatings → non-leafing + high stability + fine particle size
• Building coatings → cost balance + decorative priority
• Industrial protection → barrier performance priority + corrosion-resistant system
• Marine coatings → high weather resistance + strong adhesion system
• Water-based eco-friendly coatings → water-based + low VOC + stable dispersion

Aluminium Paste vs Aluminium Powder

In the metal pigment and coating industry, although aluminium paste and aluminium powder both originate from aluminium metal, they belong to two completely different functional material systems in practical applications. 

1.Aluminium Powder

Aluminum powder is a dry metallic particle powder obtained through mechanical grinding or atomization processes. It is an unprocessed raw form of metallic material that has not undergone liquid dispersion treatment. Its essential characteristic is "dry metallic particulate".

2.Aluminium Paste

Aluminum paste is a paste-like system formed by wet grinding of aluminium flake particles, followed by surface treatment and stabilization with a dispersing medium. Its essential characteristic is a functional dispersed pigment system.

3.Structural and morphological differences

4. Differences in application industries

FAQs about Aluminium Paste for Paint

1. What is aluminium paste for paint used for?

Aluminium paste for paint is mainly used in paints to provide metallic luster, reflective effect and certain shielding protection performance. It is widely applied in automotive paints, industrial paints and decorative paints. 

2. What is the difference between aluminium paste and aluminium powder?

Aluminium powder is a dry powder raw material that is prone to oxidation and difficult to disperse. Aluminium pigment, on the other hand, is a dispersed system that has undergone surface treatment and can be directly used in paint formulations, with higher stability. 

3. Can aluminium paste be used in water-based coatings?

Sure, but a specific water-based aluminium paste needs to be used to prevent oxidation and hydrogen generation issues and to ensure the stability of the system. 

4. What is the difference between leafing and non-leafing aluminium paste?

The leafing aluminum paste mainly floats on the surface of the coating, providing a strong reflective effect. The non-leafing aluminum pigment is evenly dispersed in the coating, offering better adhesion and durability. 

5.How do I choose aluminium paste for my coating system?

The appropriate model should be selected mainly based on the application system (solvent-based or water-based), the final effect (high gloss or deep metallic effect), and the requirements for weather resistance. 

6. Is aluminium paste safe to use in industrial production?

Aluminum paste is an industrial coating safety material. However, in solvent-based systems, fire prevention measures should be taken, while in water-based systems, the pH and storage conditions need to be controlled. 

7. What particle size is commonly used in aluminium paste for paint?

Generally, within the range of 5 to 30 micrometers, different particle sizes will affect the metal effect, glossiness, and the smoothness of the coating. 

8. Why does aluminium paste for paint sometimes cause coating defects?

Usually, poor dispersion, incompatible systems, or incorrect selection can lead to blooming, sedimentation or uneven metal effects. 

9.What industries commonly use aluminium paste for paint?

It is mainly used in fields such as automotive coatings, industrial protective coatings, architectural decorative coatings, and marine anti-corrosion coatings. 

10. Can you supply customized aluminium paste for different coating systems?

Yes. We can provide customized solutions for particle size, solid content, leafing/non-leafing type, as well as water-based or solvent-based formulations according to customer requirements.

Why choose Manterbo Aluminium Paste for Paint?

Manterbo is engineered for industrial coating applications where consistency, dispersion stability, and system compatibility are critical. Unlike standard metallic pigments, our products are designed to ensure stable performance in both solvent-based and water-based coating systems, reducing common issues such as flake aggregation, color variation, and batch inconsistency during scale-up production. With strong control over particle morphology and surface treatment technology, we help customers achieve more uniform metallic effects and reliable application results across automotive, industrial, and protective coating systems. Beyond supplying materials, we also provide application guidance to support formulation optimization and reduce trial-and-error costs in production.

Conclusion - Aluminium Paste for Paint

Choosing the appropriate aluminium paste for paint is not only a material procurement decision, but also a key factor determining the final performance stability and industrialization success rate of the coating. In practical applications, the core challenges faced by coating enterprises are often not the performance of a single product, but rather system matching, batch consistency, and repeatable performance in large-scale production.

Manterbo focuses on aluminium paste for paint, by controlling the sheet structure, optimizing dispersion stability, and designing compatibility with water-based aluminum pigment. This helps you achieve more stable metal effects and lower production fluctuation risks in different coating applications.

Contact us for samples and technical support tailored to your coating system.