PIGMENT RED 53:1/ HP RED 2537

What Is PR53:1 / HP RED 2537

CAS 5160-02-1, CI 15585:1, Type Monoazo Lake (barium salt). PR53:1 is a classic Lake Red C pigment introduced in 1902, known for its bright, yellowish-red shade. HP RED 2537 is specifically engineered for solvent-based ink systems, delivering optimal gloss and viscosity control. Its primary application niche is in packaging gravure and lithographic printing inks, where high-speed press performance and clean color strength are critical.

Why Choose HP RED 2537

HP RED 2537 is the preferred choice for solvent-based inks because its formulation balances gloss and viscosity for consistent press performance. Unlike sibling HP RED 2466, which prioritizes maximum strength, HP RED 2537 focuses on excellent flow and wetting in solvent systems, reducing misting and improving laydown. This grade is ideal for printers who need reliable rheology over ultimate tinting power. While HP RED 23241 remains uncharacterized, HP RED 2537 offers proven stability in common solvent blends (alcohols, esters). Choose this grade when your priority is smooth ink transfer, high gloss on non-porous substrates, and predictable viscosity without sacrificing color yield. It outperforms many BONA lakes in strength while maintaining the classic bright PR53:1 shade that stands out on packaging.

Key Features

• Excellent gloss development in solvent-based systems enhances print vibrancy and visual appeal on coated packaging.
• Optimized viscosity profile ensures stable ink flow and prevents tack buildup during high-speed gravure and lithographic printing.
• Strong tinctorial strength (higher than typical BONA lakes) allows reduced pigment loading while maintaining color intensity.
• Bright, yellowish-red shade (yellower than PR57:1) provides clean, high-impact color for food packaging and consumer goods.
• Heat stability up to 160°C ensures color consistency during drying and lamination processes common in packaging production.

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C.I.NO.: PR53:1

Advantage: Good gloss, Good viscosity

Main Application Recommended: solvent based inks

Product Description – PR53:1

HP Red 2537 (Pigment Red 53:1), a barium lake, is a strong and brilliant red pigment renowned for its vivid shade range. As a key pigment in printing inks, it is particularly valued for its use in disposable printed products, excelling in sheet and web offset, gravure, and flexographic printing inks, where it delivers vibrant color and reliable performance.

Recommended Application：

Printing inks: offset inks, solvent 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 PR53:1

Why is PR53:1 specifically recommended for solvent-based inks, not other systems?

PR53:1 (HP RED 2537) is chemically engineered with a barium salt of C.I. Pigment Red 53:1, giving it exceptional resistance to solvent attack. Unlike generic red pigments that bleed or dissolve in aggressive solvents like esters, ketones, or aromatic hydrocarbons, HP RED 2537 maintains its crystal integrity and color strength. This makes it ideal for flexo and gravure solvent inks, where volatile organic compounds are the carrier. In water-based systems, the pigment’s hydrophobicity can cause flocculation, and in UV systems, its high oil absorption may disrupt cure. Thus, PR53:1 is a specialist, not a universal pigment. HP RED 2537 takeaway: It is the go-to red for high-solvent-power vehicles, offering unmatched stability without color shift.

What are the specific performance limits of HP RED 2537 in outdoor or high-heat applications?

HP RED 2537 has moderate lightfastness (ISO 5 rating of 4 out of 8) but poor weather resistance due to the barium metal component, which can catalyze photodegradation under continuous UV. It is not recommended for exterior signage or automotive paints. For heat, it withstands up to 150°C during curing but begins to sublimate above 180°C, losing color density. In solvent ink film drying (e.g., 80-100°C), it performs reliably. However, in baking finishes or laminating processes exceeding 200°C, grade PR53:3 (calcium salt) is preferred. HP RED 2537 takeaway: Excels in indoor solvent inks and low-heat drying, but avoid outdoor or high-temp (180°C+) exposure.

How does PR53:1 compare to PR53:3 or PR53:0 in solvent ink applications?

PR53:1 (barium salt) is the most opaque and solvent-stable variant, offering twice the tinctorial strength of PR53:0 (sodium salt). PR53:3 (calcium salt) has better heat stability but lower chroma and higher oil absorption, requiring more dispersant. In solvent systems, PR53:1 provides a cleaner, deeper red than PR53:3, especially in low-shear, high-binder lacquers. For cost-sensitive packaging inks, PR53:1’s higher loading efficiency reduces pigment consumption by 15-20% versus PR53:3. However, if food contact compliance is needed, PR53:3 is safer due to lower barium migration. HP RED 2537 takeaway: Offers the best color-strength-to-cost ratio for non-food solvent inks, outperforming sibling grades in pigment load reduction.

What dispersion challenges are unique to PR53:1 and how are they overcome?

PR53:1 has a primary particle size of 0.1-0.3 microns but tends to agglomerate rapidly due to its high surface energy (45 mJ/m²). In solvent-based milling, this causes flocculation and viscosity instability if not properly wetted. The key is to use a high-acid-number resin (e.g., nitrocellulose) with a steric stabilizer like Disperbyk-163. Pre-wetting the pigment powder in a 1:1 solvent blend (e.g., ethyl acetate + MIBK) for 30 minutes before milling reduces dust and improves grind. Avoid over-milling beyond 4 hours, which can fracture particles and reduce gloss. HP RED 2537 takeaway: Requires exact resin-stabilizer pairing; proper pre-wetting prevents agglomerate reformation in finished inks.

What is the shelf life of PR53:1 powder and how should substitution be handled in existing formulations?

Stored in sealed, dry conditions (below 30°C, 60% RH), PR53:1 maintains full color performance for 5 years from manufacture. Hydrostatic moisture above 2% will cause caking and reduced transfer efficiency in gravure inks. When substituting for another PR53:1 supplier (e.g., Clariant versus DIC), always adjust for ISO brightness variation (±1.5%) by pre-testing tinting strength. For replacing with PR53:3, expect a 10% loss in opacity and a yellower shade (ΔE~2-3) which requires reformulating with 5-8% extra titanium dioxide to compensate. Never substitute with PR57:1 (rubine) as it shifts color to bluish-red. HP RED 2537 takeaway: A 5-year stable pigment; any substitution demands tint strength recalibration to avoid off-shade batches.

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