UCE™ Technical Glossary
Standard Code: LITH-UCE-GLO-01
Scope: Definitions of physical and chemical processes referenced within the Universal Chromatic Engine specification
This glossary provides technical nomenclature for interpreting the UCE™ framework. Terms are written to remain hardware-neutral and describe functional process logic rather than proprietary implementations.
The structural scaffold of the particle system. Typically composed of starches, fibers, gums, or cross-linked carbohydrate materials engineered for high surface area and pigment adsorption. Matrix structure influences payload capacity, flowability, density, and release behavior.
A fine lipid or wax coating applied to the carrier matrix. This layer functions as a moisture barrier and release-control interface, reducing premature pigment interaction with water-based environments until process activation occurs.
The temperature range at which the lamination layer softens, melts, or structurally transitions, allowing encapsulated pigments to disperse into the host system. Trigger temperature depends on the lipid chemistry selected.
A controlled drying or solidification pathway in which moisture removal, temperature, and airflow are balanced to convert a loaded slurry into a stable dry particle while minimizing oxidation, collapse, or pigment degradation.
Use of mechanical shear energy to rapidly disperse dry particles into water-based systems. High shear can break agglomerates, improve wetting, and enable suspension or emulsion formation with reduced stabilizer demand.
The state in which pigments remain physically isolated inside the carrier system during storage or pre-processing. Effective sequestration reduces bleed, migration, oxidation, and unwanted reactions with surrounding ingredients.
A particle-size distribution metric indicating that 90% of measured particle volume falls below a stated diameter threshold.
Example: D90 ≤ 5.0 μm means 90% of particles are 5 microns or smaller. This is commonly used to estimate smoothness, dispersion quality, and sensory performance.
An informal product-development term describing particles that are effectively imperceptible in the mouth or on the tongue under intended use conditions.
The active pigment fraction deposited onto or within the neutral carrier base. Load-out percentage influences intensity, hue strength, and dosage efficiency.
A measure of free water available for chemical reactions or microbial growth. Lower water activity generally improves shelf stability of dry systems.
A=A. The definition is the boundary. The physics is the proof.