PIGMENT YELLOW 12/ HP YELLOW 1544

What Is PY12 / HP YELLOW 1544

Pigment Yellow 12 (PY12) is a diarylide yellow organic pigment classified under the azo pigment family, specifically a disazo compound known for its strong color strength and high transparency. Chemically, it is based on 3,3′-dichlorobenzidine coupled with acetoacetanilide, giving it a bright greenish-yellow shade. In the printing and packaging ink industry, PY12 is a workhorse pigment for solvent-based systems, valued for its cost-effectiveness and ability to produce clean, vibrant hues. HP YELLOW 1544 is a specialized grade of PY12 optimized for these demanding applications.

Why Choose HP YELLOW 1544

HP YELLOW 1544 is engineered specifically for solvent-based ink formulations, where its intrinsic transparency becomes a critical performance advantage. This grade delivers exceptional clarity and depth in overlays and process printing, allowing the substrate or underlying printed layers to show through without muddying the color. The high transparency reduces the amount of pigment required to achieve a given color strength compared to opaque yellow grades, improving ink mileage. Its particle size and surface treatment are tailored to disperse easily in common solvent systems like ethanol, ethyl acetate, and n-propyl acetate, preventing grit formation and ensuring stable viscosity during production. This makes HP YELLOW 1544 ideal for flexographic and gravure printing on films and foils, where transparency is essential for multi-color registration and clean highlights.

Key Features

• High transparency in solvent-based ink films allows sharp color contrast and clean overprinting without haze.
• Rapid dispersion in polar solvents reduces milling time and energy consumption during ink manufacturing.
• Excellent gloss development in finished prints enhances visual appeal and surface protection on non-porous substrates.
• Strong color saturation at low pigment loadings minimizes formulation cost while maintaining vibrancy.
• Reliable solubility resistance prevents dye bleed or recrystallization in aggressive solvent mixtures over storage.

What Is PY12 / HP YELLOW 1544

Pigment Yellow 12 (PY12) is a diarylide yellow organic pigment classified under the azo pigment family, specifically a disazo compound known for its strong color strength and high transparency. Chemically, it is based on 3,3′-dichlorobenzidine coupled with acetoacetanilide, giving it a bright greenish-yellow shade. In the printing and packaging ink industry, PY12 is a workhorse pigment for solvent-based systems, valued for its cost-effectiveness and ability to produce clean, vibrant hues. HP YELLOW 1544 is a specialized grade of PY12 optimized for these demanding applications.

Why Choose HP YELLOW 1544

HP YELLOW 1544 is engineered specifically for solvent-based ink formulations, where its intrinsic transparency becomes a critical performance advantage. This grade delivers exceptional clarity and depth in overlays and process printing, allowing the substrate or underlying printed layers to show through without muddying the color. The high transparency reduces the amount of pigment required to achieve a given color strength compared to opaque yellow grades, improving ink mileage. Its particle size and surface treatment are tailored to disperse easily in common solvent systems like ethanol, ethyl acetate, and n-propyl acetate, preventing grit formation and ensuring stable viscosity during production. This makes HP YELLOW 1544 ideal for flexographic and gravure printing on films and foils, where transparency is essential for multi-color registration and clean highlights.

Key Features

• High transparency in solvent-based ink films allows sharp color contrast and clean overprinting without haze.
• Rapid dispersion in polar solvents reduces milling time and energy consumption during ink manufacturing.
• Excellent gloss development in finished prints enhances visual appeal and surface protection on non-porous substrates.
• Strong color saturation at low pigment loadings minimizes formulation cost while maintaining vibrancy.
• Reliable solubility resistance prevents dye bleed or recrystallization in aggressive solvent mixtures over storage.

C.I.NO.: PY12

Advantage: Transparency

Main Application Recommended: Solvent based inks

Product Description – PY12

HP YELLOW 1544 (PIGMENT YELLOW 12) is a common medium-yellow component in solvent-based inks, widely used in letterpress, offset and gravure solvent inks, with special grades dominating yellow components in publication gravure inks. It has moderate solvent resistance and improved stability in modified varieties, with prints resistant to varnishing and sterilization.

Recommended Application：

plastics: PE, PVC
Printing inks: solvent based inks, offset ink

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 PIGMENT YELLOW 12

How does HP YELLOW 1544 compare to standard PY12 for solvent-based ink formulations?

Standard PY12 grades often suffer from bleed or strength loss in aggressive ketone and ester solvent systems used in gravure and flexo printing. HP YELLOW 1544 is specifically surface-treated and processed to deliver higher color strength and cleaner shade in toluene, MEK, and ethyl acetate blends. While generic PY12 may show 15-20% lower transparency and shift green under high shear, this grade maintains a neutral bright yellow with strong opacity. For narrow-web solvent ink manufacturers who need batch-to-batch consistency without reformulating, the difference is clear. The takeaway: HP YELLOW 1544 offers the stability and intensity that standard PY12 cannot guarantee in solvent vehicles.

Is HP YELLOW 1544 compatible with polyurethane and nitrocellulose resin systems for solvent inks?

Yes. HP YELLOW 1544 (PY12) was designed to disperse fully in both polyurethane (PU) and nitrocellulose (NC) binder systems without grit or reagglomeration. In PU-based inks for flexible packaging, it resists solvent popping and delivers a clean, brilliant yellow that holds under lamination. In NC systems for paper and paperboard printing, it offers rapid release and high gloss. Compatibility extends to common solvent mixtures including ethanol, IPA, and n-propyl acetate. We recommend a simple grind test at 40% pigment loading to confirm dispersion. The takeaway: HP YELLOW 1544 eliminates compatibility guesswork and viscosity spikes in PU or NC solvent ink formulations.

What shelf life and storage conditions should I expect for PY12 in solvent ink production?

Stored in a cool, dry warehouse below 30°C with original packaging unopened, HP YELLOW 1544 maintains its dispersion properties and color value for at least 36 months. Unlike some diarylide yellows, this grade resists surface oxidation and moisture pickup that can cause lumping or dispersion failure. Once incorporated into a solvent ink concentrate, the pigment remains stable if the ink is kept sealed and away from direct sunlight. Avoid storing near heat sources or with acidic vapors, which may accelerate shade shift. For bulk powder, use within 12 months after first opening. The takeaway: HP YELLOW 1544 provides a reliably long shelf life with minimal degradation risk for solvent ink batch planning.

How does HP YELLOW 1544 perform in high-speed gravure printing of flexible packaging?

In high-speed gravure on BOPP and PET films using toluene-based solvent inks, HP YELLOW 1544 delivers low viscosity build and excellent dot reproduction at 300-500 m/min. Migration and plate wear are minimized thanks to controlled particle size distribution. The pigment provides a deep yellow with good opacity covering typical white substrates in one pass, reducing laydown weight. Printers report fewer plate cleanings and less pinhole defects compared to other PY12 grades in the same solvent system. It also holds shade under reheating during lamination. The takeaway: HP YELLOW 1544 sustains gravure performance at speed while maintaining print quality standards for flexible packaging converters.

Can HP YELLOW 1544 replace PY14 or PY83 in solvent ink systems without restriking?

Partial replacement is possible but not direct. PY14 and PY83 are greener and redder respectively in masstone. HP YELLOW 1544 (PY12) sits cleaner and more neutral, so you may need to rebalance with small amounts of extender pigment or dye for an exact match. However, for cost-sensitive applications like low-VOC solvent inks for disposable packaging or publications, HP YELLOW 1544 often achieves acceptable color at much lower raw material cost than PY83. Do verify lightfastness requirements first, as PY12 has lower resistance than PY83 for outdoor use. The takeaway: Use HP YELLOW 1544 as a cost-effective alternative to higher-cost yellows where indoor fastness specs allow minor shade adjustment.

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