Solvent Green 3 / Solvent Dyes
of transparency, higher tinting strength, and lowe
Technical Information
CAS No.: 128-80-3
Molecular formula: C28H22N2O2
Solvent Green 3 — Anthraquinone Bluish-Green Solvent Dye for Engineering Plastics & Polyester Fiber
Solvent Green 3 is an anthraquinone-based bluish green solvent dye engineered for high-temperature polymer processing and specialty chemical coloring. Unlike phthalocyanine-derived greens (Solvent Green 28, PG7), which rely on metal-complex chemistry, Solvent Green 3 achieves its vivid bluish-green hue through a substituted anthraquinone chromophore — delivering superior transparency in amorphous polymers such as PS, ABS, PMMA, and PC without the nucleation or warpage risks associated with pigment-grade colorants.
Its standout property is 300°C heat resistance across PS, SAN, PMMA, PC, and PET at 0.05% loading (transparent), making it one of the most thermally stable green colorants available for injection molding and extrusion of engineering thermoplastics. Combined with Grade 7–8 lightfastness in PS, ABS, PC, R-PVC, and PET, Solvent Green 3 bridges the gap between decorative coloring (where classical solvent dyes fail on durability) and performance-grade applications requiring long-term color retention under UV exposure and thermal cycling.
Typical industrial applications include: automotive interior trim coloring (PC/ABS blends), optical lens tinting (PMMA), PET fiber and bottle preform coloring, transparent packaging for consumer electronics (PS, SAN), and specialty coatings for wood, leather, and metal where solvent solubility in toluene (20 g/L) and dichloromethane (20 g/L) enables formulation flexibility. In the printing ink sector, Solvent Green 3 is used in flexographic and gravure ink systems for security printing and decorative laminates.
Compared to Solvent Green 28 (anthraquinone, PG7-based), Solvent Green 3 offers a distinctly bluer shade with higher solubility in aromatic solvents, enabling deeper color development at lower dosages. Compared to Pigment Green 7, it provides complete transparency and zero nucleation in polyolefins — critical for thin-wall packaging and optical applications where haze must be eliminated.
Identification Information:
Product name: Solvent Green 3
CAS No.: 128-80-3
Molecular formula: C28H22N2O2
Product specification
| Appearance | Powder |
| Tinting Strength | 98 – 102% Indicates batch-to-batch color consistency; ±2% tolerance ensures uniform color development across production runs without re-formulation. |
| Shade Color | Similar to the standard, Shade is matched against an internal CIELAB standard under D65 illuminant; ΔE control guarantees visual conformity for multi-site manufacturing. |
| Bulk Density | 1.55g/ml Medium bulk density facilitates gravimetric dosing into masterbatch compounding lines; lower than inorganic pigments, reducing settling risk during storage. |
| Melting Point | 215℃ Melting point above 215°C ensures the dye remains in the melt phase during PS/ABS/PMMA processing (180–260°C) without premature crystallization or plate-out on tooling. |
| Ash | ≤ 0.5% Low ash content confirms minimal inorganic residue — critical for optical-grade applications where particulate contamination causes light scattering defects. |
| Moisture | ≤ 1.0% Controlled moisture prevents hydrolysis during PET and PC processing, where water content above 0.02% can trigger polymer chain scission and molecular weight loss. |
| Insolubles in xylene | ≤ 0.5% Xylene insolubles serve as a purity proxy — undissolved particles indicate incomplete synthesis or filler contamination that could clog spinnerets in fiber extrusion. |
| Color Differential Value ΔE | ≤ 0.7 ΔE ≤ 0.7 is below the just-noticeable-difference threshold for human observers (ΔE ~1.0), ensuring visually seamless batch transitions in large-volume orders. |
Technical Data:
| Test Items | PS | ABS | SAN | PMMA | PC | R-PVC | PA6 | PET |
| Heat resistance temperature, ℃ (0.05% dyes, transparent) |
300 | – | 300 | 300 | 300 | – | – | 300 |
| Heat resistance temperature, ℃ (0.05% dyes + 1.0% Titanium dioxide) |
300 | 280 | 280 | 300 | 300 | – | – | 300 |
| Migration resistance | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Light fastness (0.05% dyes, transparent) | 7-8 | 7-8 | – | – | 8 | 7 | – | 7 |
| Weather resistance | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Acid resistance (in 5% hydrochloric acid solution) | – | – | – | – | – | 5 | – | – |
| Alkali resistance (in 5% caustic soda solution) | – | – | – | – | – | 5 | – | – |
Solvent green 3 solubility in organic solvent at 20℃(g/l)
| Acetone | Butyl Acetate | Methylbenzene | Dichloromethane | Ethylalcohol |
| 0.8 | 3.0 | 20 | 20 | 0.1 |
Application
| PS | ● | HIPS | ● | ABS | ● |
| PC | ○ | PVC-R | ● | PMMA | ● |
| SAN | ● | AS | ● | PA | – |
| PET | ○ | PA6 | – |
Note: ● = recommended ○ = potential use – = not recommended
Recommended Dosage
Transparent: 0.02%
Non-transparent: 0.035%
Packaging:
Regular Packaging is in 25kgs paper drum, carton or bag. Products with low density will be packed into 10-20 kgs.
Frequently Asked Questions — Solvent Green 3
What makes Solvent Green 3 different from Pigment Green 7 for plastics coloring?
Solvent Green 3 is a true molecular dye that dissolves completely in the polymer melt, delivering 100% transparency with zero haze — essential for optical lenses, transparent packaging, and display components. Pigment Green 7 (phthalocyanine green) is an insoluble particulate that creates translucent-to-opaque coloration and acts as a nucleating agent in semi-crystalline polymers like PP and PE, potentially causing warpage. Solvent Green 3 eliminates nucleation risk entirely but sacrifices migration resistance compared to PG7. For amorphous polymers (PS, ABS, PC, PMMA) where transparency is required, Solvent Green 3 is the preferred choice; for polyolefins where opacity and migration resistance are acceptable, PG7 remains more economical.
Can Solvent Green 3 be used in PET fiber and bottle preform applications?
Yes. Solvent Green 3 is rated for PET at 300°C heat resistance (0.05% loading, transparent) with Grade 7 lightfastness, making it suitable for PET fiber spin-dyeing and ISBM (injection stretch blow molding) bottle preforms. The key consideration is moisture content: PET is highly hygroscopic, and residual moisture above 0.02% during melt processing triggers hydrolytic degradation, reducing intrinsic viscosity (IV). Solvent Green 3 is supplied at ≤1.0% moisture, but pre-drying at 80°C/4 hours under dehumidified air is recommended before PET processing to achieve the target <0.005% moisture in the final formulation. For food-contact PET bottles, verify specific migration limits (SML) under EU 10/2011 or FDA 21 CFR compliance for your jurisdiction.
What is the recommended dosing method for Solvent Green 3 in injection molding?
For transparent injection molding in PS, ABS, PMMA, and PC, the recommended dosage is 0.02% by weight of polymer. The most accurate dosing method is gravimetric blending: pre-weigh Solvent Green 3 powder and natural polymer pellets, tumble-mix for 5–10 minutes, then feed directly into the injection molding machine hopper. Alternatively, prepare a single-dye masterbatch at 5–10% concentration in a carrier resin compatible with your base polymer (LDPE for PS/ABS; PMMA carrier for PMMA), then let-down at 0.2–0.4% masterbatch ratio. For continuous extrusion (sheet, profile), use a side-feeder or liquid dosing unit with the dye dissolved in a compatible solvent (toluene or butyl acetate at 3–20 g/L solubility range).
How does Solvent Green 3 perform in outdoor applications compared to inorganic green pigments?
Solvent Green 3 achieves Grade 7–8 lightfastness (Blue Wool Scale) in PS, ABS, PC, R-PVC, and PET — comparable to many inorganic pigments and significantly better than classical azo or triphenylmethane dyes (typically Grade 3–5). However, inorganic green pigments such as chromium oxide green (PG17) or cobalt green (PG19) offer Grade 8 lightfastness with superior weather resistance, chemical inertness, and no migration risk. For outdoor applications exceeding 5-year exposure (automotive exterior, building facades), inorganic pigments remain the standard. For indoor or semi-protected outdoor applications (automotive interior trim, consumer electronics housings, furniture), Solvent Green 3 provides adequate durability with the advantage of transparency, higher tinting strength, and lower loading requirements.
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