PIGMENT YELLOW 14/ HP YELLOW 1426

What Is PY14 / HP YELLOW 1426

CAS 5468-75-7, CI 21095, Type: Disazo Diarylide. This specific grade is an opaque, low-viscosity yellow pigment designed for water-based inks and offset printing. It occupies an intermediate shade between PY12 and PY13, offering a higher molecular weight that inherently improves solvent fastness. HP YELLOW 1426 is particularly suited for packaging gravure and letterpress applications where strong color strength, transparency control, and resistance to bleeding are required, especially in nitrocellulose-based systems where PY12 would typically fail.

Why Choose HP YELLOW 1426

Choose HP YELLOW 1426 when your application demands an opaque yellow with low viscosity for water-based inks and offset formulations. Unlike its sibling HP YELLOW 1543 (which prioritizes transparency) or HP YELLOW 1737 (focused on dispersibility), this grade delivers a unique combination of hiding power and flow efficiency. The opaque character makes it ideal for covering substrates without excessive layering, while the low viscosity ensures smooth handling in high-speed printing processes. Select HP YELLOW 1426 over PY12 when solvent resistance is critical—such as in NC-based packaging gravure—or when you need a stronger, more bleed-resistant yellow that still maintains good color strength. It also outperforms PY13 in applications where lower viscosity is required without sacrificing opacity.

Key Features

• Opaque character provides superior hiding power in water-based inks, reducing the number of print passes needed for full coverage.
• Low viscosity formulation ensures excellent flow and transfer in high-speed offset and gravure printing, minimizing machine downtime.
• Higher molecular weight than PY12 delivers enhanced solvent fastness, making it reliable in nitrocellulose-based packaging inks where PY12 would bleed or dissolve.
• Good color strength allows for efficient pigment loading, reducing overall ink cost while maintaining vibrant yellow shades in water-based systems.
• Intermediate shade between PY12 and PY13 offers balanced hue options, enabling precise color matching in offset and letterpress applications without blending multiple pigments.

C.I.NO.: PY14

Advantage:  Opaque, Low viscosity

Main Application Recommended: Water based inks, offset inks

Product Description – PY14

HP YELLOW 1426 (PIGMENT YELLOW 14) is diarylide yellow pigment for gravure inks and is more resistant to solvents than P.Y.12. In contrast to P.Y.12, it is resistant to paraffin, which makes it a useful product for packaging inks.

Recommended Application:

Coatings: industrial paints, water based coatings
Printing inks: offset inks, water based inks

Technical Data:

• Light fastness: Light fastness rating is assessed on 1 to 8 Blue Wool scale where 1 = ‘Poor’ and 8 = ‘Excellent’.
• Heat Stability : Heat stability values given indicate the maximum temperature at which the pigment can be stoved for 10 min. on the full shade and in reductions without undergoing any significant change in shade.
• Oil absorption: The oil absorption is determined on the basis of EN ISO 787-5 and given in g linseed oil per 100 gm. pigment.
• Solvent bleeding: The bleeding in solvents is tested using the powder grades and the visual rating given on 1 to 5 Grey scale
  where 1 = ‘Heavy bleeding’ and 5 = ‘No bleeding”

Technical Note — The data and recommendations provided are based on HONOR Pigment’s internal testing and manufacturing experience. They are offered in good faith to assist customers in evaluating product suitability for their specific applications. As processing conditions, formulations, and end-use requirements vary widely, customers should conduct their own validation under actual use conditions. HONOR Pigment makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy of this information or its fitness for any particular purpose. Nothing herein shall be construed as a license or recommendation to infringe any patent. HONOR Pigment’s standard terms and conditions of sale apply.oduct contains particles < 0.1 μm. Any user of this product is responsible for determining the suitability of Honor Pigments’s products for its particular application & to ensure that any proprietary rights & existing laws & legislation are observed.

Frequently Asked Questions About PY14

Why is HP Yellow 1426 specifically recommended for both water-based and offset ink systems?

HP Yellow 1426 is formulated with a surface treatment that balances hydrophilicity for water-based vehicles and oleophilic affinity for offset varnishes. In water-based flexo/gravure, it achieves low foam and high color strength at 12-15% pigment loading. For offset, the pigment’s narrow particle size distribution (0.1-0.3 µm) ensures rapid ink-water balance on press, reducing piling on blankets. Unlike universal yellows that compromise one system, HP Yellow 1426 provides gloss (>65° @ 60°) in water-based films and mileage in heatset offset without ghosting. This dual-system fit eliminates the need for separate inventory, simplifying formulation for converters. HP YELLOW 1426 takeaway: Tailored surface chemistry enabling seamless cross-platform performance in water and oil media.

What are the known performance limits of PY14 in high-speed printing?

PY14’s main limitation is re-dispersion: under high shear (>10,000 rpm) with poor wetting, particles can agglomerate, causing filtering issues in water-based inks. In offset, excessive tack (above 8 on a 100 scale) may lead to picking on coated stocks. HP Yellow 1426 mitigates this via polymeric stabilizers, but it is not recommended for UV offset or overprint varnishes due to limited lightfastness (blue wool scale 2-3). Additionally, water-based formulations require pH 8-9 control; at pH 10+, pigment flocculation occurs. Maximum tint strength in offset is achieved at 20% pigment concentration—higher levels risk roller glazing. These limits are well-documented for ISO 2846-1 offset standards. HP YELLOW 1426 takeaway: Optimized for moderate-speed to mid-shear applications; not for high-UV or extreme pH systems.

How does HP Yellow 1426 compare to PY13 and PY83 sibling grades?

PY13 (HP Yellow 1270) offers higher heat stability (>200°C) and is preferred for baking enamels, but its greenish shade (λmax 436 nm) shifts in water-based inks. PY83 (HP Yellow 1293) provides 20% higher tinctorial strength in offset but requires costly grinding due to harder crystals. HP Yellow 1426 sits between them: its reddish-yellow hue (CI 21095) matches Pantone 012C with 10% less pigment than PY13 for same depth. In water-based inks, PY83 lacks wet-rub resistance, while PY14 excels at 4-5 rating (ASTM D4752). Cost-per-unit strength makes 1426 economical for packaging—15-20% cheaper than PY83 on an equal-strength basis. However, PY13 retains better transparency for process print. HP YELLOW 1426 takeaway: Ideal balance of cost, opacity, and water resistance vs. brighter but pricier siblings.

What dispersion protocol ensures optimal HP Yellow 1426 performance?

For water-based inks, use a pre-mix at 40% solids with a high-acid acrylic resin (acid number 200-250) for 15 minutes at low speed. Then mill on a horizontal bead mill (0.4-0.6 mm zirconia) at 3000-4000 rpm, targeting a fineness of 10-15 µm (Hegman 7). Avoid over-dispersion beyond 2 hours—PY14 crystal damage reduces gloss. For offset, flush the pigment directly into a phenolic-modified alkyd varnish for 30 minutes at 60°C, then pass through a three-roll mill twice. Adding 1% by weight of non-ionic surfactant (e.g., nonylphenol ethoxylate) reduces dusting. Never use anionic dispersants above pH 9, as they neutralize the pigment’s surface charge. Filter after milling through a 50-micron mesh for water-based inks. HP YELLOW 1426 takeaway: Controlled shear and pH-neutral vehicles unlock full color development.

Can HP Yellow 1426 be substituted for legacy diarylide yellows, and how should stored batches be monitored?

HP Yellow 1426 directly replaces standard PY14 grades (e.g., C.I. 21095) in water-based and sheetfed offset inks with no reformulation needed for shade—only adjust for 5% higher oil absorption (40-45 g/100g). It is not a drop-in for PY12 or PY13 due to green vs. red undertones. For storage, keep sealed below 40°C in dry conditions; humidity above 60% RH causes caking within 6 months. If stored past 12 months, test water-based viscosity: if >30% increase over initial, re-mill with 2% wetting agent. Avoid mixing with azomethine yellows—chemical incompatibility yields brown casts. For substitution in offset heat-set, confirm lithographic transfer by running a single-print dot gain test (Hilfiker method). HP YELLOW 1426 takeaway: Safe swap for standard PY14; verify storage conditions and avoid moisture-induced agglomeration.

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