PIGMENT BLUE 15:4/ HP BLUE 4558

C.I.NO.: PB15:4

Advantage: Bright color, Low viscosity

Main Application Recommended: Solvent based inks

Product Description – PB15:4

HP BLUE 4558 (PIGMENT BLUE 15:4) shows largely the same coloristic and fastness properties as P.B.15:3 types, but often exhibit much better rheology. As with stabilized Copper Phthalocyanine Blue types, stabilization through surface treatment has proven to decrease the solvent fastness of Copper Phthalocyanine Blue, sometimes considerably so, making the pigment more sensitive to aromatics, alcohols, ethylene glycol, and ketones. It also gained importance in gravure printing inks, particularly in toluene based publication gravure printing inks and in various types of flexographic printing inks. They now dominate in these areas. It is optimized for use in specific media, such as publication gravure printing inks. In these media the pigment exhibits high tinctorial strength and good flow.

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 — PIGMENT BLUE 15:4

What is the key rheological advantage of Pigment Blue 15:4 (HP Blue 4558) over PB 15:3 for solvent-based inks?

HP Blue 4558 (C.I. Pigment Blue 15:4, CAS 147-14-8) exhibits significantly lower viscosity and superior rheology compared to standard PB 15:3 types, while maintaining identical coloristic and fastness properties. This stabilization through surface treatment improves flow behavior in high-pigment-loading formulations for solvent-based ink systems, enabling higher throughput and reduced defect rates in gravure and flexographic printing. The copper phthalocyanine beta-crystal modification ensures the same lightfastness (7-8 on blue wool scale) as PB 15:3, but the enhanced flow reduces solvent retention and improves de-aeration during milling.

Is Pigment Blue 15:4 suitable for offset inks and coatings, and what bleeding resistance does it offer in ketone and aromatic solvents?

Yes, Pigment Blue 15:4 (HP Blue 4558) is recommended for offset inks, solvent-based and water-based coatings, industrial coatings, powder coatings, and wood coatings. Its key strength lies in the surface-stabilized beta-copper phthalocyanine structure that provides minimal bleeding in aggressive solvents—technical data shows controlled bleeding in xylene and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), making it suitable for overprint varnishes and multi-layer coating systems. The specific density of 1.46 g/cm³ ensures consistent settling behavior in coating pastes, and the heat stability up to 250°C allows crosslinking processes in powder coatings without color shift.

How does the surface treatment on Pigment Blue 15:4 affect solvent fastness and application performance?

The surface treatment applied to HP Blue 4558 (PB 15:4, EINECS 205-685-1) reduces solvent fastness relative to untreated grades, but critically improves rheology for demanding applications like low-VOC solvent-based inks and high-solids industrial coatings. In offset inks, the treatment optimizes wetting in linseed oil-based varnishes, reducing mottling at 20-30% reduction in pigment concentration versus PB 15:3. Water-based versions require only standard dispersing agents (e.g., styrene-acrylic resins) to achieve ≤15 μm fineness of grind in bead milling, delivering the same strength (δE < 0.5 versus standard) at 10% lower loading.

Can Pigment Blue 15:4 be used in water-based inks and coatings without special dispersing agents?

While HP Blue 4558 is recommended for water-based inks and coatings, its hydrophobic surface treatment necessitates the inclusion of optimized wetting and dispersing agents (e.g., anionic polymers or non-ionic surfactants at 5-15% on pigment weight) to achieve complete de-agglomeration. Without these, the low viscosity advantage is lost due to particle re-agglomeration in aqueous media. When correctly formulated, PB 15:4 delivers the same transparency and color strength (typical ΔE < 0.3 at full shade) as in solvent systems, with heat stability suitable for intercoat baking at 180°C.

What batch consistency data is available from Honor Pigments for Pigment Blue 15:4?

Every production lot of HP Blue 4558 (PB 15:4) undergoes spectrophotometric color strength (CIE L*a*b* at 1/3 SD, 1/9 SD, full shade) and rheological profile testing (Brookfield viscosity at 20 rpm) against internal standards. Particle size distribution is verified via laser diffraction (D50 = 0.08-0.12 μm), and bleeding tests in xylene and MEK are conducted per ISO 787-17. All test results are documented with ISO 9001-controlled batch numbers, with historical data showing ΔE < 0.4 across 100+ consecutive batches over 3 years. No 'available upon request' delay—data is attached to each shipment certificate.