Orion S.A. to showcase coatings industry’s first bio-circular carbon black plus high-jet grades for automotive coatings at the 2026 American Coatings

HOUSTON, TX -- Orion S.A., a global specialty chemicals company, will showcase sustainability, highlight high-jet performance and detail electrical conductivity of specialty carbon blacks in coatings systems at the 2026 American Coatings Show + Conference on May 5-7 in Indianapolis.

Orion (Booth #1466) will spotlight ECOLAR 50 POWDER, an award-winning carbon black produced from bio-circular feedstocks. In addition, Orion will highlight COLOUR BLACK FW 310 and COLOUR BLACK FW 255, which provide outstanding high-jetness in waterborne and solvent-borne systems. Orion also will present details on effectively dispersing specialty carbon blacks in conductive coatings systems.

ECOLAR 50 POWDER is a low to medium furnace black that provides medium jetness in mass tone applications and good tinting strength.

“The coloristic properties of ECOLAR 50 POWDER compare favorably with traditional specialty carbon blacks across a broad range of coatings systems and applications, with the added benefit that it contains 100% biogenic raw material per 14C analysis,” said Zack Hays, Orion S.A. marketing manager for coatings and printing systems in North America.

“Since we officially launched ECOLAR 50 POWDER last year, industry response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Hays continued. “We're very proud of introducing the industry's first 100% bio-based carbon black and we look forward to helping our customers produce truly sustainable products, contribute to a healthier planet and promote a more circular economy.”

High jetness for automotive OEM and refinish systems

Among the deepest blacks on the market, Orion’s high jet COLOUR BLACK FW 310 and COLOUR BLACK FW 255 grades impart a clean and elegant black to automotive coatings.

• COLOUR BLACK FW 310 generates Orion’s highest jetness values with a deep blue undertone. Compatible with water-borne, solvent-borne and high solid applications, it is an excellent choice for automotive OEM basecoats and refinish coatings plus high-end industrial applications.​

• COLOUR BLACK FW 255, geared for automotive OEM and refinish systems, delivers very high jetness and a deep blue undertone in both solvent-borne and waterborne coating systems, making it suitable for use in a wide range of high-jet applications. An after-treatment process improves wetting and dispersing properties.

Dispersing conductive blacks

Jaelene Matos, Orion technical marketing manager for coatings systems in North America, will give a presentation, “High Performance Conductive Coatings with Specialty Carbon Blacks,” at 9 a.m. on May 6.

Matos will focus on the relationship between the dispersion process and final conductive properties of the newest specialty conductive carbon blacks in both waterborne and solvent-borne coating systems. In addition to discussing the role and properties of carbon black in conductive coatings, she will discuss the influence of dispersion method, time and dosage on conductive performance. Matos also will detail conductive performance of medium and high conductive carbon blacks in various coating systems.

For more information about the Orion portfolio for coatings systems, contact the Orion sales team here.