Using six sigma tools to evaluate pigment dispersant demand performance

A useful and relatively new methodology for reducing cost and improving quality is Six Sigma. Applying Six Sigma to product design and/or process control has been done on a routine basis. We would like to take this approach into the lab and offer the coatings formulator the same opportunity to explore the benefits of Six Sigma. Therefore, in this work, we focus on evaluating dispersant demand of four pigments using a Six Sigma approach. Specifically, we show how to define which parameters are important to measure, how to perform the measurements, analyze the data, and make conclusions regarding the relative difference in dispersant demand between the test pigments all with a Six Sigma data-driven approach. The goal of this work is to demonstrate how coatings formulators can find benefits in using Six Sigma tools. Then, the coatings formulator can expand with confidence the use of Six Sigma to other applicable formulating processes.