PIGMENT BLUE 15:3/ HP BLUE 4452

What Is PB15:3 / HP BLUE 4452

CAS 147-14-8, CI 74160, Type: Copper Phthalocyanine. This grade is a beta crystal form CuPc optimized specifically for water-based inks, delivering a bright greenish-blue shade with Blue Wool 8 lightfastness. Its unmatched heat and chemical stability among organic blues, combined with higher tinting strength than the alpha form, makes it the dominant blue organic pigment for waterborne ink systems requiring reliable, long-lasting color.

Why Choose HP BLUE 4452

Select HP BLUE 4452 when your water-based ink formulation demands maximum brightness and true greenish-blue tone. Unlike sibling grade 4559 which prioritizes low viscosity and dispersibility, or 43145 which targets undefined balance, this grade delivers pure color intensity with excellent fastness properties. The beta crystal structure is stabilized against crystal growth and flocculation, ensuring consistent performance in aqueous systems where pigment particles must remain fine and evenly distributed. Compared to 4452J, this grade focuses on optimal brightness rather than the highest color strength, making it ideal for applications where visual impact matters most. Choose it for premium water-based inks requiring vivid, stable blue with outstanding outdoor durability.

Key Features

• Beta crystal form provides superior stability against crystal growth and flocculation in water-based ink formulations, preventing strength loss and hue shifts during storage and printing.
• Excellent lightfastness rated Blue Wool 8 ensures printed water-based inks retain their brilliant greenish-blue color even under prolonged UV exposure outdoors.
• Higher tinting strength than alpha CuPc enables reduced pigment loading in water-based systems, lowering formulation costs while maintaining vivid color output.
• Unmatched heat and chemical stability among organic blues guarantees water-based inks withstand high-temperature drying processes without degradation or color change.
• Bright greenish-blue shade delivers exceptional visual impact in water-based ink applications, outperforming sibling grades in color purity and saturation for premium printing results.

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C.I.NO.: PB15:3

Advantage: Bright color

Main Application Recommended: Water based inks

Product Description – PB15:3

HP BLUE 4452 (PIGMENT BLUE 15:3) is a phthalo pigments with greenish shade. It has outstanding properties for light fastness, weather fastness and acid alkali fastness. it is mainly used in water based printing inks, sometimes be used in solvent based printing inks.

Recommended Application：

Coatings: solvent based coatings, water based coatings, industrial coatings, powder coatings, wood coatings
Printing inks: offset inks, solvent based 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”

Disclaimer — This Technical Data Sheet reflects our best understanding of typical product properties at the time of publication. Listed values are representative of standard production and are not intended as specifications, contractual parameters, or fitness guarantees. Batch variations within normal manufacturing tolerances may occur; users should verify critical parameters against their own requirements before use. Processing methods, formulations, and end-use environments are beyond the manufacturer’s control. The buyer assumes full responsibility for confirming product suitability through its own testing and quality assurance. No intellectual property license is granted or implied. All warranties are disclaimed, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. The manufacturer is not liable for incidental, consequential, or special damages. All sales are governed by the manufacturer’s standard terms, available upon request. This product may contain particles below 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 PB15:3

Is PB15:3 / HP BLUE 4452 specifically optimized for water-based ink formulations, or is it a general-purpose pigment?

Yes, this grade is specifically optimized for water-based ink systems. Unlike general-purpose PB15:3 grades, HP BLUE 4452 features a surface treatment designed to enhance wettability and dispersion stability in aqueous vehicles. It exhibits low foaming tendencies and minimal viscosity shift during letdown, common issues with untreated phthalocyanines in water. The pigment also maintains colloidal stability across a pH range of 7.5-9.5, preventing flocculation that can ruin shade. For flexo and gravure applications, it delivers high transparency without sacrificing strength. HP BLUE 4452 takeaway: It’s engineered for water-based ink rheology, not a multi-purpose drop-in.

What are the specific performance limits of this pigment regarding lightfastness and chemical resistance in water-based inks?

In full shade (0.2% loading on TiO₂), HP BLUE 4452 achieves 7-8 on the Blue Wool scale, but at high dilution in water-based transparent overlacquers, lightfastness drops to 5-6 due to reduced UV absorption per particle. It resists bleed in methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol up to 20% concentration, but fails in MEK or acetone above 5% because the crystal surface treatment dissolves. Alkali resistance is good up to pH 10.5, but prolonged contact with ammonia (common in some water-based overprint varnishes) causes a slight green shift. Avoid acidic binders below pH 5.0. HP BLUE 4452 takeaway: Excellent for most aqueous prints, but limit solvent co-solvents and avoid strong bases/acid vehicles.

How does HP BLUE 4452 compare to PB15:1 (alpha) or PB15:4 (beta/yellow-shade blue) for water-based ink applications?

PB15:1 (alpha) is redder but 15-20% weaker in tinting strength and exhibits higher rheological instability in water—it often requires more dispersant. PB15:4 (beta/yellow-shade) is greener, with slightly better heat stability (300°C vs. 280°C), but its smaller crystal size creates filtration issues in fine nozzle inkjet. HP BLUE 4452 (PB15:3) balances a neutral reddish-blue tone with the highest tinctorial strength among copper phthalocyanine beta forms. Its optimized particle size distribution (0.08-0.12 µm) yields superior gloss and transparency without clogging 5µm filters. HP BLUE 4452 takeaway: The most robust beta-grade for water-based systems, outperforming both alpha and alternative beta grades in dispersion efficiency.

What dispersion parameters are critical for achieving full color development with HP BLUE 4452 in water-based inks?

Pre-disperse in acrylic or styrene-acrylic resin solution at 35-40% solids using a bead mill with 0.5-0.8mm zirconia beads. Critical: maintain mill-base temperature below 45°C—above 50°C triggers crystal growth, causing a dull green shift. Use 3-5% anionic/nonionic dispersant (e.g., sodium polyacrylate) based on pigment weight; excessive dispersant (>8%) destabilizes the system. Target a Hegman gauge reading of 7+ (≤5µm agglomerates) for flexo; for inkjet, require <1µm D90 via laser diffraction. Over-grinding beyond 3 hours reduces strength due to amorphous surface layers. HP BLUE 4452 takeaway: Thermal control and dispersant stoichiometry are non-negotiable—poor dispersion ruins both shade and stability.

Can HP BLUE 4452 be substituted for PB15:3 grades from other manufacturers, and what storage conditions prevent performance degradation?

Direct substitution is risky because surface treatment chemistry varies widely. Many generic PB15:3 grades lack the anti-sedimentation surfactants of HP BLUE 4452, causing hard settling within weeks in liquid ink. For storage, keep sealed in original drums at 15-30°C; humidity above 60% RH can clump the powder due to hygroscopic coating. Do not store near strong oxidizers or amines—they degrade the surface treatment. In water-based paste form, use within 6 months and avoid freeze-thaw cycles (irreversible crystal aggregation). If substituting, run a full dispersion test and verify rheology curve. HP BLUE 4452 takeaway: Not a simple drop-in; its tailored surface chemistry demands controlled storage and cautious cross-grade replacement.

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