PIGMENT BLUE 15:6/ HP BLUE 4656

What Is PB15:6 / HP BLUE 4656

PB15:6 / HP BLUE 4656 is an organic pigment with no specific CAS or CI number assigned, classified under Organic Pigment type. It is a high-performance copper phthalocyanine blue pigment in the beta crystal modification, known as PB15:6. This pigment offers exceptional color strength, transparency, and chemical resistance. It is widely utilized in solvent-based and water-based coating systems where durability and vibrant blue shades are required. Its fine particle size ensures excellent dispersion and gloss retention in industrial applications.

Why Choose HP BLUE 4656

This specific grade, HP BLUE 4656, excels in coatings due to its outstanding weatherfastness, heat stability, and resistance to solvents and chemicals. Coatings formulated with this pigment maintain color integrity under UV exposure and harsh environmental conditions, making it ideal for automotive, industrial, and architectural finishes. Unlike some phthalocyanine blues, PB15:6 offers a greenish-blue shade with higher transparency, which is preferred for metallic and effect coatings. When compared to sibling grades such as PB15:1 or PB15:3, HP BLUE 4656 provides superior flocculation resistance and gloss in solvent-based systems. For applications requiring deep jetness or non-floating properties, this grade outperforms standard alpha blue variants. Its excellent rheology allows for high pigment loading without viscosity build-up, enabling efficient production. HP BLUE 4656 is particularly chosen when maximum color strength and durability are non-negotiable in demanding coating environments.

Key Features

• PB15:6 exhibits exceptional UV and lightfastness, making it suitable for long-term outdoor coating applications.
• This pigment provides high transparency and color strength, enabling brilliant metallic and effect finishes.
• HP BLUE 4656 demonstrates outstanding resistance to organic solvents and chemicals used in industrial coatings.
• Its beta crystal structure prevents phase change and maintains shade consistency during processing and application.
• This grade ensures excellent dispersion stability and gloss retention in both solvent-based and water-based coating formulations.

What Is PB15:6 / HP BLUE 4656

PB15:6 / HP BLUE 4656 is an organic pigment classified under CI Pigment Blue 15:6 (no specific CAS number listed) and falls within the phthalocyanine blue family as type Organic Pigment. This high-performance beta-copper phthalocyanine variant exhibits a bright, reddish-blue shade with exceptional color strength. It is widely used in industrial applications where consistent hue and thermal stability are critical. The pigment’s crystalline structure provides excellent dispersion properties and resistance to flocculation, making it a standard choice for demanding coating systems that require long-term color retention and reliability under various environmental conditions.

Why Choose HP BLUE 4656

HP BLUE 4656 is specifically engineered for coatings applications, offering superior rheological behavior and ease of incorporation into solvent-borne and water-based systems. Unlike standard PB15:3 grades, this 15:6 polymorph provides a deeper, more transparent red-shade blue ideal for automotive OEM, industrial, and architectural coatings. It outperforms siblings in heat stability (up to 220°C) and chemical resistance, preventing color shift during curing or outdoor exposure. For applications requiring wet-on-wet compatibility or high gloss without sacrificing durability, HP BLUE 4656 delivers consistent batch-to-batch performance. Its optimized particle size distribution reduces milling time and improves final film smoothness. Choose this grade when you need a balance of intense chromaticity, weatherability, and processing efficiency—traits critical for premium coating formulations that must endure UV radiation, humidity, and mechanical stress without fading or blooming.

Key Features

• Exhibits exceptional heat stability up to 220°C, preventing degradation during high-temperature curing processes in industrial coatings.
• Provides high transparency and a bright reddish-blue shade, enabling deep color effects in metallic and pearlescent coating systems.
• Demonstrates outstanding resistance to flocculation and re-agglomeration, ensuring uniform color distribution even after prolonged storage.
• Delivers superior chemical resistance against solvents, acids, and alkalis, maintaining color integrity in harsh environmental exposures.
• Offers excellent lightfastness and weatherability, retaining more than 80% of original color strength after 1,000 hours of accelerated UV testing.

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C.I.NO.: PB15:6

Advantage:

Main Application Recommended: Coatings

Product Description -PB15:6

HP BLUE 4656 (PIGMENT BLUE 15:6) is the ε-modification of phthalocyanine blue. It delivers the reddest blue shade and exhibits good overall resistance properties, including resistance to organic solvents, as well as excellent lightfastness and weatherfastness. It is primarily used in the paints industry and plastics sector.

Recommended Application：

Coatings: solvent based coatings, water based coatings, auto paints, industrial coatings, powder coatings, coil coatings wood coatings
Plastics: PE, PP, PVC, EVA,  ABS

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 PB15:6

What specific coating applications is PB15:6 / HP BLUE 4656 best suited for?

This pigment excels in high-performance industrial coatings, particularly in automotive OEM and refinish paint systems. Its primary value lies in creating brilliant, high-saturation blue shades for water-based and solvent-based topcoats. It is also widely used in coil coatings and can coatings where extreme heat stability is required. The pigment offers excellent transparency, making it ideal for metallic basecoats where depth and flop are critical. For general industrial or architectural coatings where cost sensitivity is higher, a less expensive copper-phthalocyanine blue may be preferred. For applications demanding maximum chroma and weatherfastness in a single shade, HP BLUE 4656 is the top choice.

What are the key performance limitations of this pigment in exterior coatings?

While PB15:6 (HP BLUE 4656) offers outstanding weather resistance, it is not perfectly fade-proof in all conditions. In lighter shades or when reduced with high amounts of white pigment, it can undergo a slight shade shift over years of high-UV exposure, typically becoming yellower. It is less durable in thin films or very low film build applications. Additionally, while it resists chemicals well, it can be sensitive to strong acids or strong alkaline environments. For the most demanding outdoor applications (20+ years), a shift to a blue pigment based on DPP chemistry or a stabilized inorganic blue may be necessary. For most automotive and industrial standards, HP BLUE 4656 provides superior color retention.

How does HP BLUE 4656 (PB15:6) compare to PB15:3 (beta-copper phthalocyanine blue)?

The core difference is crystallographic phase. PB15:3 is the red-shade beta phase, offering a darker, more violet-tinted blue with excellent heat stability. PB15:6 is the epsilon phase, which is the most brilliant and greenish shade of blue available in phthalocyanines. HP BLUE 4656 has a higher chromaticity and distinct cleaner hue, making it the standard for bright “True Blue” or cyan shades. PB15:3 is more cost-effective and offers slightly stronger opacity in some formulations. If you need a clean, vibrant greenish blue, choose HP BLUE 4656. If you need a deeper, redder blue or require lower cost for the same chemical family, PB15:3 is a better fit.

What processing challenges should I expect when dispersing HP BLUE 4656?

As a phthalocyanine pigment, HP BLUE 4656 can be difficult to disperse due to its tendency to form hard agglomerates. In solvent-based systems, it may require high-shear milling (e.g., bead mills or triple-roll mills) to achieve full color strength and transparency. In water-based systems, surface treatment is often critical to prevent flocculation. A common issue is “flooding” or “floating” when combined with white pigment in a basecoat. To prevent this, use a high-efficiency wetting agent and ensure proper letdown time. The pigment’s natural flocculation tendency can also reduce gloss; optimized dispersion is key. With proper technique, HP BLUE 4656 delivers flawless results.

What are the best storage and substitution practices for this pigment?

Store HP BLUE 4656 in a cool, dry environment below 40°C (<104°F) to prevent moisture absorption and agglomeration. Keep containers sealed to avoid contamination from other pigments. Shelf life is typically 5 years if stored properly. As a direct substitute for other PB15:6 pigments, verify that the CI (Color Index) and CAS number exactly match your current spec (CAS: 147-14-8). However, even within PB15:6, variations in particle size and surface treatment can alter color strength and transparency. Always test a small lot before full substitution. HP BLUE 4656 is the industry benchmark for consistent, brilliant epsilon blue performance, ensuring minimal reformulation risk when replacing older PB15:6 sources. **Takeaway: HP BLUE 4656 delivers the highest brilliance and weatherfastness for premium blue coatings, requiring careful dispersion but rewarding with unmatched shade purity.**