Can I enter the full dispersion time?

Only when pigment is fed throughout that period. Otherwise, enter just the active feeding window.

Does the result include dust collection losses?

It includes pigment crossing the feeder boundary, even if some later becomes waste. Subtract measured downstream losses separately to find retained pigment.

How do I handle a changing feed rate?

Use a time-weighted average from the feeder log, or calculate each interval separately and add the issued masses.

Is this a pigment loading percentage?

No. Divide retained pigment mass by the finished batch mass to obtain a mass loading percentage.

Coatings, Inks & Specialty Chemical Production calculator

Pigment Usage Calculator

Estimate pigment pounds issued during feeding and the corresponding material cost. Use the measured feed rate, active addition time, and invoice price for that pigment grade.

What this calculator does

Estimate pigment issued and its material cost during an active feeding window.

Formula used

Pigment issued = feed rate × active addition time
Pigment material cost = pigment issued × unit cost

Inputs explained

Pigment Feed Rate: Measured average feeder mass rate during active addition.
Active Addition Time: Feeder run log excluding mixing without pigment addition.
Pigment Unit Cost: Delivered grade-specific price from the purchase invoice.

How to use the result

Best suited to pigment inventory staging, metered feed cost reconciliation.
Issued mass does not establish retained pigment, color strength, or dispersion quality.

Current U.S. benchmarks

Industrial electricity averages 9.77 cents per kWh across the U.S. (EIA, Jul 2026), up 4.7% from a year earlier. Energy-intensive steps carry this directly into unit cost.
The producer price index for industrial chemicals stands at 336.006 (BLS, Aug 2026), up 13.3% from a year earlier. Quotes priced off last quarter's material cost miss this move.
The U.S. has 14,543 chemical manufacturing establishments employing about 911,245 workers (Census County Business Patterns, 2023).

Common questions

Can I enter the full dispersion time? Only when pigment is fed throughout that period. Otherwise, enter just the active feeding window.
Does the result include dust collection losses? It includes pigment crossing the feeder boundary, even if some later becomes waste. Subtract measured downstream losses separately to find retained pigment.
How do I handle a changing feed rate? Use a time-weighted average from the feeder log, or calculate each interval separately and add the issued masses.
Is this a pigment loading percentage? No. Divide retained pigment mass by the finished batch mass to obtain a mass loading percentage.

Last reviewed 2026-10-01.