DENSON GT Series Water-Based Color Pigment – Specialized Product Recommendation Guide for Water-Based Toy Coatings

Dongguan DENSON New Materials Co., Ltd. – Water-Based Color Pigment Division

I. Preface

Water-based toy paints—particularly wood toy paints—impose significantly more stringent requirements on color pigments than conventional water-based industrial paints: the colors must be vibrant and high-gloss; the paint film must not exhibit re-adhesion upon layering; and there are numerous environmental compliance tests with rigorous limit values. The GT Series water-based color pigments are specifically developed to address the three core challenges associated with water-based toy paints— "vibrant colors, resistance to re-adhesion, and compliance with environmental regulations." Featuring a formulation combining high sunfastness organic pigments, an APEO-free dispersion system, and a low-solvent composition, these pigments have passed the limit testing for isothiazolinone compounds (MIT/CIT/BIT) and can be directly used in water-based toy paint systems, including water-based acrylic and water-based PU coatings.

II. Three Core Requirements and the GT Series Solutions

1. Vibrant colors — High-purity pigments + narrow particle size distribution

2. Poor paint film adhesion — Low hydrophilic residue formulation (the most critical indicator for wood toy paints)

When wooden toys are packaged and stacked, re-adhesion of the paint film can cause the paint surface to stick together or peel off; this is the most frequently reported issue in toy paint manufacturing facilities. The root cause of re-adhesion often lies not in the resin itself, but in hydrophilic residues introduced by the color paste. The GT Series implements control measures starting from the formulation stage:

• No APEO/NPEO: No alkylphenol polyoxyethylene ether wetting agents are used to prevent the formation of a permanent hydrophilic layer on the film surface;

• Low-solvent formulation: No high-boiling-point alcohols (e.g., ethylene glycol or propylene glycol) are used – such substances can still cause re-adhesion even after remaining in the thick film for several weeks – and no residual adhesion remains after film formation;

• Low-bubble polymer dispersant: After drying, the dispersant is anchored to the pigment surface without migrating to the interface, thereby not affecting the film's Tg or hardness;

• Excellent early-stage water resistance: The paint film exhibits good water resistance as early as 24 hours after drying, without any whitening or softening;

• Broad resin compatibility: When mixed with water-based acrylic/acrylonitrile emulsions, water-based PU dispersions, or water-based alkyd coatings, it does not adversely affect the film hardness or adhesion resistance of the resulting coating.

3. Environmental compliance certification – Comprehensive compliance system

Your company has confirmed that the GT series complies with the maximum limit requirements for \\MIT/CIT/BIT (isothiazolinone preservatives) in water-based toy materials. Furthermore, the GT series also covers the following mainstream environmental compliance testing items for toy paints; it is recommended to include these in your testing submission:

(1) Heavy metal migration

• EN 71-3 (EU), GB 6675.4 (China), ASTM F963 (USA): 17–19 migrating elements (e.g., Sb, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg, Se, Al, B, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Sr, Sn, Zn, etc.);

• The GT series uses only non-heavy-metal pigments, avoiding the use of lead-chromium yellow, molybdenum-chromium red, or cadmium-based pigments, thereby eliminating the risks associated with Pb, Cd, and Cr(VI) at the source.

(2) Phthalates

• CPSIA Section 108 / REACH Annex XVII / GB 6675.1: DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, DNOP, etc. (6P–15P);

• The GT series formula contains no phthalate plasticizers.

(3) Ithazolineones

• MIT (Methylisothiazolinone), CIT/MIT (3:1) (Methylchloroisothiazolinone), BIT (Benzisothiazolinone): Complies with the relevant limit requirements specified in EN 71-9 and GB 6675.

(4) Other recommended testing items

III. GT Series Product Technical Specifications

General Physical Parameters

IV. Application Recommendations

V. Recommended Portfolio Strategy

VI. Conclusion

The GT series water-based color pigments have been formulated with optimization tailored to the actual operating conditions of water-based toy coatings (particularly wood-based toy coatings) across three key dimensions: color brightness, anti-re黏附 performance, and environmental compliance. These pigments have successfully passed the MIT/CIT/BIT testing; high-risk compliance-critical parameters—such as heavy metal content, phthalate content, and APEO levels—have been eliminated at the formulation stage. We recommend that your company focus its internal validation testing on the following three tests: layered coating anti-re黏附 performance (50 °C × 24 h pressure-sensitive test), resistance to immersion in warm water (40 °C × 2 h), and the EN 71-3 full-element migration test; the GT series is expected to pass all these tests without issue.

For sample testing, color matching technical support, or a complete set of third-party testing reports, please contact our Technical Department.