Coatings, Inks & Specialty Chemical Production worked example

Pigment Usage with pigment metering rate into the mill of 110 lb / hr: a worked example

This scenario runs the pigment usage calculation on the strong side: pigment metering rate into the mill of 110 lb / hr, with every other input held at its documented default. planning pigment purchases, checking batch-ticket additions, or comparing pigment loading in alternate formulas

The inputs for this scenario

  • Pigment metering rate into the mill: 110 lb / hr (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 45)
  • Dispersion or letdown run time: 3.5 hr (unchanged)
  • Pigment cost per pound: 6.2 $ / lb (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Pigment Usage consumed = pigment addition rate × dispersion or addition time) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 385 lb for pigment usage consumed, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 2,387 $ for pigment usage cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 3.5 hr for dispersion or addition time.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 6.2 $ / unit for pigment cost per pound.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where pigment metering rate into the mill sits at 45 lb / hr and the headline result is 158 lb, this scenario comes in 144% above the baseline at 385 lb.
  • Use it when planning a dispersion or letdown run, reconciling pigment inventory draw-down, or costing the pigment portion of a coating or ink formula. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • pigment usage consumed: 385 lb (headline result)
  • pigment usage cost: 2,387 $
  • dispersion or addition time: 3.5 hr
  • pigment cost per pound: 6.2 $ / unit

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Pigment Usage calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.