Pigment Red 48:2 (HP RED 26265) – Calcium Lake Red | Honor Pigments

Pigment Red 48:2 (HP RED 26265) — Calcium-Lake Monoazo Red for Gravure Ink, Packaging Ink, and Plastic Coloring

A calcium-lake monoazo red pigment (C.I. 15865:2) delivering bluish-ruby shade, 230°C heat resistance in HDPE, and Blue Scale 4-5 lightfastness for packaging inks and polyolefin coloring.

Product Overview

HP RED 26265 is a Pigment Red 48:2 calcium-lake pigment (C.I. 15865:2), the calcium salt of a BONA (β-oxynaphthoic acid) monoazo red produced by diazotizing 2B acid and coupling onto 2,3-acid. In 1986 the Gravure Technical Association (GTA) in the USA adopted PR48:2 as its standard process red for gravure packaging inks, making this one of the most widely specified red pigments in packaging printing.

The calcium lake yields bluish-red shades referred to as ruby — substantially bluer than PR48:1 (barium salt) and distinctly yellower than PR57:1. In 1/3 standard-depth (SD) HDPE colorations containing 1% TiO2, HP RED 26265 is heat stable up to 230°C for 5 minutes. Its lightfastness reaches Blue Scale step 4-5 in 1/1 SD letterpress proofs, two to three steps above corresponding PR48:1 specimens (step 3-4). These properties position the pigment for packaging inks, polyolefin coloring, and general industrial paints.

Key Benefits

Bluish-Ruby Shade for Process Red

PR48:2 was adopted by the Gravure Technical Association as the standard process red for gravure packaging inks in 1986. Its ruby tone is substantially bluer than PR48:1 and noticeably yellower than PR57:1, suiting magazine-cover and packaging color targets.

230°C Heat Stability in HDPE

1/3 SD HDPE colorations with 1% TiO2 remain color-stable up to 230°C for 5 minutes (Industrial Organic Pigments, 3rd ed.). Above this temperature the shade shifts bluer and duller.

Strong Tinctorial Strength

Only 0.21% pigment is required to formulate a 1/3 SD HDPE coloration containing 1% TiO2, indicating good tinctorial strength in polyolefins (Industrial Organic Pigments, 3rd ed.).

Blue Scale 4-5 Lightfastness

1/1 SD letterpress proof prints equal step 4-5 on the Blue Scale, distinctly more lightfast than PR48:1 at step 3-4. In LDPE, PR48:2 outperforms PR48:1 by roughly 2.5 Blue Scale steps.

Solvent Fastness Close to Barium Lake

Fastness to organic solvents approaches that of the corresponding barium salt, supporting use in nitrocellulose-based packaging inks and solvent-borne coating systems.

Technical Specifications

Applications Matrix

Competitive Comparison

Positioning

HP RED 26265 is a calcium-lake PR48:2 positioned for packaging and gravure ink formulators who need the GTA standard process red with 230°C heat stability and Blue Scale 4-5 lightfastness. It targets formulators seeking a domestic China price point with book-documented performance data.

vs. DIC Corporation

DIC’s SYMULER series covers the full PR48 range with global regulatory documentation and batch-to-batch consistency. HP RED 26265 delivers the same calcium-lake ruby shade for Asia-Pacific supply chains at a lower cost.

vs. Sudarshan

Sudarshan’s Sudaperm Red series includes PR48:2 calcium-lake grades with strong Africa and Asia distribution. HP RED 26265 matches the process-red color target with competitive China domestic pricing.

vs. Vipul Organics

Vipul Organics offers integrated azo pigment/dye solutions including PR48 red lakes. HP RED 26265 provides comparable calcium-lake performance with established supply-chain availability.

vs. PR48:1 (barium lake)

PR48:1 (barium salt) provides slightly better opacity and soap/sterilization fastness, but lower lightfastness (Blue Scale 3-4 vs. 4-5) and a redder, less blue tone. PR48:2 calcium lake is preferred for packaging inks and LDPE where lightfastness matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main applications of Pigment Red 48:2 (HP RED 26265)?

HP RED 26265 is used in gravure packaging inks (where PR48:2 is the GTA standard process red), nitrocellulose-based packaging inks, three- and four-color magazine-cover printing, HDPE/LDPE coloring, plasticized PVC in deep shades, and industrial paints such as oven-drying, nitro, and emulsion systems. Its 230°C heat stability and Blue Scale 4-5 lightfastness make it well suited to polyolefin and packaging applications.

Is HP RED 26265 suitable for solvent-based coatings and packaging inks?

Yes. The pigment’s fastness to organic solvents comes close to that of the corresponding barium lake, supporting use in nitrocellulose-based packaging inks and solvent-borne coating systems. PR48:2 was adopted as the standard process red for gravure packaging inks in 1986, confirming its fitness for solvent-based print.

What is the solvent resistance of PR48:2 pigment?

PR48:2 calcium lake offers good organic solvent resistance, close to the barium salt PR48:1. It is however inferior to PR48:1 in soap fastness and sterilization fastness in print. For applications requiring maximum solvent and migration resistance, the strontium salt PR48:3 is the more bleed-resistant option in plasticized PVC.

Can Pigment Red 48:2 be used for textile printing?

Yes, HP RED 26265 can be used in pigment printing pastes for textile decoration. However, its soap fastness is inferior to the barium salt PR48:1, so it is not recommended for applications requiring repeated washing or sterilization. In deep shades the pigment delivers sufficient lightfastness for many decorative textile uses.

What is the migration resistance of Pigment Red 48:2?

PR48:2 is not entirely bleed resistant when incorporated in plasticized PVC, so it is best used in deep shades where lightfastness is also higher. For flexible PVC with high plasticizer content or applications demanding low migration, the strontium salt PR48:3 is the most bleed resistant of the PR48 metal salts.

Handling & Storage

Store HP RED 26265 in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight. Keep containers sealed to prevent moisture absorption. Under proper storage conditions (below 35°C, relative humidity < 70%), shelf life is minimum 3 years from manufacture date. Avoid contact with strong oxidizing agents.

Packaging

Available in 25 kg multi-ply paper bags with polyethylene liner, or 500 kg bulk bags upon request.

Related Products

• Pigment Red 48:1 HP RED 25191 (barium-lake PR48:1 red pigment)
• Pigment Red 48:3 HP RED 2348 (strontium-lake PR48:3 red, 220°C heat resistance)
• Pigment Red 48 HP RED 2688 (base PR48 monoazo red pigment)
• Pigment Red family overview