What pigments are used in plastics, and what key properties should they have?

What properties should pigments for plastics possess?

1. Colorfastness - Excellent lightfastness and weather resistance

2. Thermal stability - Temperature resistance exceeding processing temperatures by 20°C significantly impacts pricing tiers

3. Chromatic performance - Includes color brightness (L*) and hue angle (hab)

4. Tinctorial strength and dispersion characteristics

5. Migration resistance and water resistance

6. Chemical inertness - Acid/alkali resistance, ethanol tolerance, etc.

7. Minimal shrinkage and warpage effects

8. Regulatory compliance - Meeting REACH, FDA, and RoHS standards

Common Plastic Pigments & Technical Specifications

1. Lightfast Brilliant Red 2BP

   • CI Number: C.I. Pigment Red 48:2

   • Chemistry: Monoazo Lake

   • Thermal Stability: 220°C | Lightfastness: 7 (ISO 105-B02)

   • Chemical Resistance: Acid 5 | Alkali 4 (ASTM D1308)

   • Hue: Blue-shade red (CIE L*a*b* coordinates provided)

   • Key Attributes: Economical pricing, exceptional heat/migration resistance, high tinting strength

2. DPP Scarlet (Pigment Red 254)

   • CI Number: C.I. Pigment Red 254

   • Chemistry: Diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)

   • Thermal Stability: 300°C | Lightfastness: 8

   • Chemical Resistance: Acid 5 | Alkali 5

   • Hue: Standard red (Pantone 185C equivalent)

   • Key Attributes: High chroma national flag red, superior solvent resistance, cost-effective for engineering plastics

3. Yellow 150P (Nickel Complex)

   • CI Number: C.I. Pigment Yellow 150

   • Chemistry: Benzimidazolone Nickel Complex

   • Thermal Stability: 250°C | Lightfastness: 7-8

   • Chemical Resistance: Acid 5 | Alkali 5

   • Hue: Greenish yellow (ΔE

   • Key Attributes: High transparency (90% @ 0.2% loading), exceptional dispersion in polyolefins

4. Hansa Yellow HGR (Clariant Equivalent)

   • CI Number: C.I. Pigment Yellow 191

   • Chemistry: Azo Lake

   • Thermal Stability: 290°C | Lightfastness: 7

   • Chemical Resistance: Acid 5 | Alkali 5

   • Hue: Reddish yellow

   • Compliance: FDA 21 CFR 178.3297 compliant, chromium-free

5. Phthalo Blue BS (β-Crystal)

   • CI Number: C.I. Pigment Blue 15:1

   • Chemistry: Copper Phthalocyanine

   • Thermal Stability: 280°C | Lightfastness: 8

   • Hue: Red-shade blue

   • Market Position: 35% global phthalo blue market share

6. Phthalo Blue BGS (ε-Crystal)

   • CI Number: C.I. Pigment Blue 15:3

   • Key Differentiator: Enhanced nylon matrix stability vs. 15:1

7. Dioxazine Violet 23

   • CI Number: C.I. Pigment Violet 23

   • Chemistry: Carbazole Dioxazine

   • Thermal Stability: 280°C | Lightfastness: 8

   • Technical Note: Highest color strength in violet spectrum (ε >50,000 L·mol⁻¹·cm⁻¹)

8. Phthalo Green G7 (BASF K8730 Equivalent)

   • CI Number: C.I. Pigment Green 7

   • Key Application: Masterbatch for automotive PP components

9. Benzimidazolone Orange RL

   • CI Number: C.I. Pigment Orange 34

   • Technical Note: 30% higher opacity vs. conventional diarylide oranges

10. Mitsubishi Carbon Black MA-100

    • CI Number: C.I. Pigment Black 7

    • Technical Specs:

      • Primary Particle Size: 24 nm (ASTM D3849)

      • DBP Absorption: 100 cm³/100g (ASTM D2414)

      • Volatiles: 1.5% (ASTM D1509)

    • Applications: Conductive compounds (surface resistivity