How to improve hiding power?

Last update on Dec 4, 2025

Hiding power refers to a coating's ability to completely obscure the underlying surface, preventing the color or pattern from showing through. It essentially reflects the amount of coating needed to achieve a uniform, opaque layer that effectively "hides" the substrate. A high hiding power paint would require fewer coats to completely cover the previous paint color or imperfections on the wall compared to a paint with low hiding power.

Pre-requisites

  • Stable pigment dispersion:
    • Well-dispersed, individual pigment particles present a larger total surface area for interacting with light. This leads to more effective light scattering throughout the coating, enhancing hiding power
    • Particle size distribution: Evenly dispersed pigment particles lead to a consistent and opaque finish with minimal patchiness
    • A well-dispersed pigment will prevent the formation of agglomerates that lead to uneven coverage

 

  • Film thickness: As the thickness of a coating film increases, there are more pigment particles per unit area. This translates to more opportunities for light to interact with the pigments and be scattered, leading to improved hiding power

 

  • Higher solids content in a dispersion translates to a higher concentration of pigment particles per unit volume of coating. This increased concentration provides more opportunities for light interaction with the pigments, leading to potentially improved hiding power

 

  • Optimized pigment particle size distribution: This maximizes the total surface area of the pigment particles within a given volume of coating. More surface area translates to more effective light scattering, leading to better hiding power

 

  • Optimized pigment particle spacing (especially important for titanium dioxide):
    • Particles packed too close together can hinder light scattering and reduce hiding power
    • The optimal spacing (uniformly spaced) allows for efficient light scattering by individual particles while preventing excessive light transmission through gaps between them. This balance is particularly important for TiO2 due to its high refractive index (ability to bend light)

 

  • Selective tinting/color matching: Hiding power isn't just about achieving opacity; it's also about achieving the desired color effectively
    • Certain colorants might absorb some of the light that would otherwise be scattered by the white pigment (usually TiO2)
    • Selective Tinting involves using colorants that minimize the reduction in hiding power

 

Formulation strategies

Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After Login Visible After LoginVisible After Login
Unlock for free