We’re evaluating a colloid mill as a pigment mill for dispersing dry pigment powders into a liquid base – will it actually break down the agglomerates?

Yes, a colloid mill works effectively as a pigment mill because the narrow rotor-stator gap generates intense shear that breaks down dry pigment agglomerates into much smaller, evenly dispersed particles within the liquid carrier. Multiple passes or a recirculation loop with a progressively narrower gap can push particle size down further, which is often needed to reach the fineness required for consistent color strength and gloss in finished formulations.