PIGMENT YELLOW 139/ HP YELLOW 1696

What Is PY139 / HP YELLOW 1696

PY139 / HP YELLOW 1696 is an Isoindoline pigment with CAS number 36888-99-0 and Colour Index 56298. This reddish-yellow shade offers a balance of bright color and strong performance, featuring good lightfastness rated at 7 on the Blue Wool scale and excellent heat stability. It is more economical than isoindolinone pigments while providing good opacity, making it a practical choice for industrial coatings and plastics where durability and cost-efficiency are both required.

Why Choose HP YELLOW 1696

HP YELLOW 1696 is formulated for coatings where excellent fastness and bright color are non-negotiable. Its advantage lies in superior light and weather resistance, ensuring long-lasting vibrancy in outdoor and high-exposure applications. For the coatings industry, this grade delivers reliable opacity and high heat stability during curing processes. When compared to isoindolinone alternatives, HP YELLOW 1696 offers a more economical solution without sacrificing performance for most industrial needs. Unlike many organic yellows, it maintains excellent durability at a lower cost per unit, making it a smart choice for demanding coating systems. As this pigment has no sibling grades, it stands alone as a specialized, high-performance option optimized for coating formulations requiring consistent, bright yellow tones.

Key Features

• Excellent lightfastness rated at 7 on the Blue Wool scale ensures long-term color retention in outdoor applications.
• High heat stability allows reliable performance during high-temperature coating and plastic processing.
• Good opacity provides effective coverage, reducing the need for multiple layers in coating applications.
• Bright reddish-yellow shade delivers vivid color intensity suitable for high-visibility industrial uses.
• More economical than isoindolinone pigments while maintaining strong fastness properties for demanding environments.

What Is PY139 / HP YELLOW 1696

PY139 / HP YELLOW 1696 has CAS number 36888-99-0, CI 56298, and is an Isoindoline pigment. This reddish-yellow shade pigment offers good lightfastness rated at 7 on the Blue Wool scale and excellent heat stability. It is extensively used in industrial coatings and plastics, providing a more economical alternative to isoindolinone pigments. With good opacity, it is frequently combined with other high-performance yellows to achieve specific color requirements.

Why Choose HP YELLOW 1696

HP YELLOW 1696 delivers outstanding fastness properties combined with a bright, vibrant color, making it a superior choice for demanding coating applications. This grade is specifically optimized for coatings, where its excellent weather resistance and chemical stability ensure long-lasting performance in exterior and industrial environments. When compared to its siblings in the isoindoline family, HP YELLOW 1696 offers a stronger reddish-yellow tone and better cost efficiency without sacrificing lightfastness or opacity. It excels in solvent-based and waterborne coating systems where durability is critical, outperforming lower-grade yellows that may fade or bleed in harsh conditions. For formulators seeking a reliable, high-performance yellow that balances cost and quality, HP YELLOW 1696 provides the ideal solution.

Key Features

• Provides excellent lightfastness with a Blue Wool scale rating of 7 for long-lasting color retention.
• Delivers bright, intense reddish-yellow shade with high color strength and good opacity.
• Offers superior heat stability, making it suitable for high-temperature processing in coatings and plastics.
• Acts as a more economical alternative to isoindolinone pigments while maintaining comparable performance.
• Exhibits strong chemical resistance and weather durability ideal for industrial and exterior coating applications.

C.I.NO.: PY139

Advantage: Excellent fastness, bright Color

Main Application Recommended: Coatings

Product Description -PY139

HP YELLOW 1696 (PIGMENT YELLOW 139,py139) is a reddish – yellow pigment. It is widely used in paints and printing inks. It exhibits a wide variety of particle – size distributions and, accordingly, demonstrates highly diverse coloristic properties, especially in terms of hiding power. It is an opaque version and allows for an increase in pigment concentration without negatively affecting the gloss of the products.

Recommended Application：

Coatings: solvent based coatings, water based coatings, auto paints, industrial coatings, powder coatings, coil 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”

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 PY139

1. Is PY139 suitable for all types of industrial coatings?

PY139 (HP Yellow 1696, CAS 36888-99-0) is particularly well-suited for high-performance industrial coatings, including automotive OEM, coil coatings, and architectural paints requiring excellent weather resistance. Its isoindolinone chemistry provides outstanding lightfastness and heat stability up to 200°C, making it ideal for exterior applications exposed to UV radiation. However, it is not recommended for high-transparency applications like candy finishes due to its limited transparency compared to organic pigments like PY150. For conventional indoor or low-durability paints, lower-cost yellows such as PY83 may suffice. Always verify compatibility with your specific resin system, especially two-component polyurethanes and powder coatings, where dispersion quality directly impacts gloss and color strength.

2. What are the main performance limitations of HP Yellow 1696?

The primary limitation of HP Yellow 1696 is its moderate tinting strength relative to high-strength azo yellows like PY74 or PY97. In formulations requiring very deep shades or high opacity with minimal loading, you may need higher pigment concentrations, increasing cost. Additionally, while it offers excellent chemical resistance, it can show color shift (greening) when exposed to certain strong acids or bases in extreme pH environments below 3 or above 10. It also has limited rheological stability in high-solvent systems; over-milling can cause gelation in some alkyd or acrylic resins. For applications demanding extreme chroma (vividness), alternatives like PY128 (benzimidazolone) may appear brighter, though with lower fastness.

3. How does PY139 compare to its siblings PY110 and PY150?

PY139 (HP Yellow 1696) sits between PY110 (isoindolinone, reddish-yellow) and PY150 (nickel azo, greenish-yellow) in shade, offering a pure mid-yellow with excellent neutrality. Compared to PY110, PY139 provides superior heat stability (300°C vs. 250°C) and better chemical resistance, but PY110 yields a slightly more transparent, redder tone favored in some automotive metallics. Versus PY150, HP Yellow 1696 has much stronger lightfastness (8 on blue wool scale vs. 7 for PY150) and higher opacity, making it superior for solid shades. However, PY150 is more cost-effective for non-critical applications and has better dispersion in waterborne systems. Choose PY139 when durability and heat tolerance are paramount; select PY150 for budget-friendly formulations or where a green-shade yellow is acceptable.

4. What processing precautions should I take with HP Yellow 1696?

To achieve optimal color development with PY139, pre-dispersion using high-shear equipment (e.g., three-roll mill or bead mill) is recommended due to its relatively hard crystal structure. Avoid excessive grinding beyond a particle size of 1–5 microns, as this can reduce gloss and cause flocculation in some solvent-based systems. In powder coatings, pre-mix with anti-agglomeration agents to prevent dusting and ensure uniform incorporation. For liquid coatings, use wetting additives (e.g., polyurethane dispersants) to stabilize the pigment and prevent settling. Processing temperature should remain below 200°C for most binder systems; though stable to 280°C, prolonged exposure above 250°C may darken the hue. Always test for compatibility with catalysts, especially in epoxy systems where amine curing agents can cause accelerated color drift.

5. How should I store PY139 and can I substitute it with other yellows?

Store HP Yellow 1696 in a cool, dry environment below 30°C, away from direct sunlight and moisture. The pigment powder has a shelf life of at least 5 years when sealed in original containers, as it does not hydrolyze or decompose over time. For substitution, direct replacements include PY129 (copper azomethine) or PY120 (benzimidazolone), which offer similar weather resistance but slightly different shade (PY129 is redder, PY120 greener). Do not use azo yellows like PY83 or PY97 as full replacements in high-durability applications, as they will fade prematurely. In non-critical indoor uses, PY139 can be blended with titanium dioxide to match shades, but this reduces opacity. Always perform a side-by-side weathering test when substituting due to differences in rheology and tinting strength in your specific coating formulation.

HP Yellow 1696 Takeaway: HP Yellow 1696 (PY139) is the go-to isoindolinone pigment for industrial coatings demanding maximum weather resistance, heat stability, and chemical durability in outdoor environments. While its moderate tinting strength and higher cost require careful formulation, it outperforms standard azo yellows and offers superior fastness over sibling pigments like PY110 and PY150. For long-lasting, non-cadmium, high-performance yellow coatings, PY139 remains an industry benchmark.