Solvent Blue 36 / Solvent Dyes
Solvent Dyes
Technical Information
Color Index: Solvent Blue 36
Molecular formula: C20H22N2O2
CAS No.: 14233-37-5
Solvent Blue 36 is an blue fluorescent dye. It has excellent heat resistance and light resistance, good migration resistance and high tinting strength with wide application.
Application: Used for coloring for plastics, PS, ABS, PMMA, PC, PET, polymer.
Identification Information:
Color Index: Solvent Blue 36
Molecular formula: C20H22N2O2
CAS No.: 14233-37-5
Product specification
Appearance Dark blue powder — The uniform fine-powder morphology ensures rapid wetting and homogeneous dispersion in both solvent-based liquid colorants and polymer melt processing, reducing mixing time by up to 40% compared to granular forms.
Tinting Strength 100±3% — The tight ±3% tolerance window guarantees batch-to-batch color equivalence, a critical quality parameter for continuous production lines where even minor shade drift can cause costly downtime and material waste.
Shade Color Similar to the standard — Rigorous shade matching against a certified internal reference standard eliminates the need for downstream color correction, saving formulators significant adjustment time during recipe scale-up.
Ash ≤ 1.0% — Low inorganic residue content confirms high dye purity; excess ash can cause screen clogging in fiber spinning and surface defects in transparent molded parts, making this specification essential for high-clarity applications.
Moisture ≤ 0.5% — Ultra-low moisture content prevents hydrolysis-driven color degradation during high-temperature processing and eliminates bubble or splay formation in injection-molded and extruded parts.
Color Differential Value ΔE ≤ 0.7 — A ΔE of 0.7 or less is near-imperceptible to the trained human eye (CIE76 standard), guaranteeing that every production batch delivers visually identical results without metamerism issues.
Bulk density 0.31 g/cm³ — The low-to-moderate bulk density facilitates accurate gravimetric and volumetric dosing in automated masterbatch compounding lines, reducing weighing errors and improving process throughput.
Melting point 167°C — The sharp, well-defined melting point indicates high chemical purity and ensures complete molecular dissolution in polymer melts above 200°C, enabling uniform isotropic color distribution throughout the finished article.
Commentary
Solvent Blue 36 is an blue fluorescent dye. It has excellent heat resistance and light resistance, good migration resistance and high tinting strength with wide application. Solvent Blue 36 is used for coloring for plastics, PS, ABS, PMMA, PC, PET, polymer.
Technical Overview — Why Solvent Blue 36 Stands Out
Solvent Blue 36 is a high-performance anthraquinone-based fluorescent blue dye engineered for demanding thermoplastic coloring applications. Its standout feature is the vivid blue fluorescence effect combined with exceptional thermal stability — withstanding processing temperatures up to 330°C in PMMA and 300°C in PS without degradation or shade shift. This makes it the preferred choice for automotive interior components, transparent cosmetic packaging, and premium candle coloring where both visual impact and thermal durability are non-negotiable. Compared to Solvent Blue 35 — a chemically related anthraquinone blue — SB36 offers superior light fastness (grade 7-8 at 1/25 SD transparent in PS) and a brighter, more saturated blue tone. Unlike Solvent Blue 97, which targets broad-spectrum thermoplastics (PS/ABS/SAN/PMMA/PC/PET) with balanced all-around properties, SB36 is purpose-optimized for applications where fluorescence intensity and high-temperature resistance are the primary selection criteria, particularly in PS, PMMA, and flexible PVC coloring systems where its migration resistance also excels.
Physical properties
| Light fastness SD 1/3 Opaque | 6-7 | 5-6 | 6 | 6 |
| Light fastness SD 1/25 Transparent | 7-8 | 5-6 | 7 | 7 |
| Heat resistance SD 1/3 Opaque (°C | 300 | 300 | 330 | 310 |
Application Profile
| PS | ● | ABS | – | PVC-R | ● |
| PC | – | PMMA | ● | Candle | ● |
| Latex | ○ | Shoe care cream | ● | Gasoline | ● |
| Lubricating grease | ● | Floor polishing | ● |
Note: ● = recommended ○ = potential use – = not recommended
Recommended Dosage
Transparent: 0.025
Non-transparent: 0.05
Packaging
Regular Packaging is in 25kgs paper drum, carton or bag. Products with low density will be packed into 10-20 kgs.
Unmatched Performance with Solvent Blue 36
Solvent Blue 36 is not just a blue fluorescent dye; it’s a solution that blends advanced functionality with wide applicability. Whether you’re aiming to achieve visually striking results or reliable durability in your projects, this dye offers exceptional performance. Thanks to its excellent heat resistance and light resistance, Solvent Blue 36 ensures longevity and stability under demanding conditions.
Diverse Applications Across Industries
With its good migration resistance and high tinting strength, Solvent Blue 36 is the preferred choice for professionals across the plastics and polymer industries. The dye integrates seamlessly into various materials such as PS (Polystyrene), ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), PMMA (Polymethyl Methacrylate), PC (Polycarbonate), PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), and more. Its adaptability makes it ideal for an extensive range of coloring applications, ensuring consistent, high-quality results regardless of the substrate.
Why Choose Solvent Blue 36?
Apart from its vibrant blue fluorescence, this dye provides unparalleled efficiency and reliability. Its superior aesthetic appeal, combined with technical merit, makes it a standout choice for projects demanding both function and form. Solvent Blue 36 is trusted for achieving precise hues, maintaining stability under heat and light exposure, and reducing product migration issues—all while preserving high tinting strength.
Why Choose Honor Pigments?
- 🌍 Global Export Expertise — Trusted by customers in 40+ countries for consistent quality and reliable supply
- ✅ Strict Quality Control — ISO 9001 certified with batch-to-batch consistency and zero-defect policy
- 💰 OEM Production Advantage — Competitive pricing without compromising pigment performance
- 🧪 Technical Support — Free color matching, formulation advice and sample testing before bulk order
📩 Need more details?
Request TDS, SDS, or a free sample for testing.
Frequently Asked Questions — Solvent Blue 36
What is the difference between Solvent Blue 36 and Solvent Blue 35 for coloring PS?
Both are anthraquinone-based solvent dyes, but SB36 delivers significantly higher fluorescence intensity and approximately 1-2 grades better light fastness under transparent conditions (grade 7-8 vs. 6-7 for SB35 at 1/25 SD in PS). SB36 also withstands higher processing temperatures — up to 300°C in PS opaque vs. 280°C typical for SB35 — making it the better choice for high-temperature PS injection molding where fluorescence is a key product requirement.
Can Solvent Blue 36 be used in food-contact plastic applications?
Solvent Blue 36 is an industrial-grade solvent dye and has not been approved for direct food-contact applications under FDA 21 CFR or EU Regulation 10/2011. For applications requiring food-contact compliance, consult Honor Pigments’ technical team about alternative pigment or dye chemistries that carry the appropriate regulatory certifications for your target market.
What processing temperature can Solvent Blue 36 withstand in transparent PMMA?
Solvent Blue 36 demonstrates outstanding thermal stability in PMMA, withstanding up to 330°C under SD 1/3 opaque conditions and maintaining color integrity through standard PMMA processing windows (220-260°C). At 1/25 SD transparent loading, light fastness reaches grade 7, making it suitable for outdoor PMMA applications including automotive tail lamp lenses and illuminated signage where both transparency and UV resistance are critical.
Why does Solvent Blue 36 exhibit strong fluorescence and how does this affect color measurement?
The fluorescence originates from the anthraquinone chromophore structure (C20H22N2O2), which absorbs UV energy and re-emits it in the visible blue spectrum. This optical brightening effect can cause discrepancies between visual assessment and spectrophotometer readings if the instrument does not account for fluorescence. For accurate quality control, Honor Pigments recommends using bi-spectral or UV-calibrated spectrophotometers that can differentiate between true reflectance and fluorescence contribution.