Pigment Red 48:2 (HP RED 23124J) – Calcium Lake Red | Honor Pigments

Pigment Red 48:2 (HP RED 23124J) — Calcium-Lake Monoazo Red for Gravure Ink, Packaging Ink, and Plastics

A calcium-lake BONA monoazo red (C.I. 15865:2) delivering bluish-ruby shade, 260°C heat resistance and Blue Scale 4-5 lightfastness for gravure packaging inks and polyolefin coloring.

Product Overview

Pigment Red 48:2 (HP RED 23124J) is the calcium salt of a BONA (β-oxynaphthoic acid) monoazo red, C.I. 15865:2, produced by diazotizing 2B acid and coupling onto 2,3-acid, then laking with calcium. 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 and noticeably yellower than PR57:1. The HP RED 23124 TDS lists heat resistance of 260°C, and 1/3 SD HDPE colorations with 1% TiO2 are heat stable to 230°C for 5 minutes (Industrial Organic Pigments, 3rd ed.). Lightfastness reaches Blue Scale step 4-5 in 1/1 SD letterpress proofs, two to three steps above PR48:1. These properties position the pigment for gravure and packaging inks, polyolefin coloring, and 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.

260°C Heat Resistance (TDS)

The HP RED 23124 TDS lists heat resistance of 260°C. 1/3 SD HDPE colorations with 1% TiO2 are heat stable to 230°C for 5 minutes (Industrial Organic Pigments, 3rd ed.).

Strong Tinctorial Strength

Only 0.21% pigment formulates 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

Pigment Red 48:2 (HP RED 23124J) is a calcium-lake PR48:2 positioned for gravure and packaging ink formulators who need the GTA standard process red with 260°C heat stability and Blue Scale 4-5 lightfastness.

vs. DIC Corporation

DIC (Sun Chemical) covers the full PR48 range with global regulatory documentation and batch-to-batch consistency. HP RED 23124J delivers the same calcium-lake ruby shade for Asia-Pacific supply chains at a lower cost.

vs. Heubach

Heubach supplies azo red lakes with international certification. HP RED 23124J matches the standard calcium-lake process-red target with competitive China domestic pricing.

vs. Sudarshan

Sudarshan’s Sudaperm Red series includes PR48:2 calcium-lake grades with strong global distribution. HP RED 23124J matches the process-red color target with established supply-chain availability.

vs. PR48:1 (barium lake)

PR48:1 (barium salt) provides better soap and 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 gravure packaging inks and LDPE where lightfastness matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pigment Red 48:2 (HP RED 23124J) and its chemical composition?

Pigment Red 48:2 (C.I. 15865:2) is the calcium salt of a BONA monoazo red pigment, made by diazotizing 2B acid, coupling onto 2,3-acid, and laking with calcium. The calcium salt has the formula C18H11ClN2O6SCa and CAS number 7023-61-2. HP RED 23124J is the product grade.

What is the difference between Pigment Red 48:2 and Pigment Red 48:1?

PR48:2 is the calcium salt with bluish-red (ruby) shades; PR48:1 is the barium salt with light yellowish to medium red shades. PR48:2 is distinctly more lightfast (Blue Scale 4-5 vs 3-4) but inferior in soap and sterilization fastness.

Is HP RED 23124J suitable for gravure and offset printing inks?

Yes. PR48:2 was adopted by the Gravure Technical Association in 1986 as the standard process red for gravure packaging inks. It is also used in nitrocellulose-based packaging inks and three- and four-color magazine-cover printing.

What is the heat resistance and lightfastness of Pigment Red 48:2?

The HP RED 23124 TDS lists heat resistance of 260°C. 1/3 SD HDPE colorations with 1% TiO2 are heat stable to 230°C for 5 minutes. Lightfastness is Blue Scale step 4-5 in 1/1 SD letterpress proofs (Industrial Organic Pigments, 3rd ed.).

Can Pigment Red 48:2 be used in PVC and plastic coloring?

Yes. HP RED 23124J colors HDPE and LDPE with good tinctorial strength (0.21% for a 1/3 SD HDPE coloration with 1% TiO2). It is not entirely bleed resistant in plasticized PVC, so use deep shades there; for flexible PVC demanding low migration, the strontium salt PR48:3 is more bleed resistant.

Handling & Storage

Store Pigment Red 48:2 (HP RED 23124J) 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

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• Pigment Red 48:2 HP RED 2347 (BBC-type toluidine red)