{"id":8469,"date":"2026-03-20T13:52:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T05:52:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/en\/pigment-blue-15-0-guide\/"},"modified":"2026-05-02T22:06:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T14:06:11","slug":"pigment-blue-15-0-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/tr\/pigment-blue-15-0-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Pigment Blue 15:0 (PB15:0): definition, properties, and where it fits"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pigment Blue 15:0 (PB15:0): Definition, Properties, Processing Windows, and Where It Fits<\/h1>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1a9fa982-c4c6-41c7-ae56-1b4108fd2722.webp\" alt=\"Red-shade blue pigment particles (alpha copper phthalocyanine) under stylized microscopy with dispersion and temperature icons\" class=\"wp-image-8468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1a9fa982-c4c6-41c7-ae56-1b4108fd2722.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1a9fa982-c4c6-41c7-ae56-1b4108fd2722-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1a9fa982-c4c6-41c7-ae56-1b4108fd2722-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>Pigment Blue 15:0 (C.I. 74160; typical CAS 147-14-8) is the non\u2011stabilized alpha polymorph of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc). It produces a vivid red\u2011shade blue with high tinting strength and very good lightfastness, but its \u03b1\u2011form is more susceptible to phase conversion under heat, energetic dispersion, or aggressive solvent environments than stabilized PB15 variants. For formulators, that means PB15:0 can deliver clean, transparent reds of blue\u2014provided processing windows and solvent choices are respected. This is a critical consideration for <strong>Japanese ink manufacturers<\/strong> managing tight shade tolerances, <strong>Korean PVC compounders<\/strong> working near thermal limits, and <strong>German coatings formulators<\/strong> where batch-to-batch color consistency is non-negotiable.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key identifiers and what they imply<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<p>Colour Index naming authority: The Colour Index International catalogs the PB15 family and establishes the canonical naming used across industry. See the authority homepage for nomenclature context in pigments and dyes via the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/colour-index.com\"><strong>Colour Index International site<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Chemical identity: Copper phthalocyanine macrocycle coordinated to Cu(II); PB15:0 denotes the \u03b1 (alpha), non\u2011stabilized modification within the PB15 family.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>C.I. number and CAS: The PB15 family is referenced under C.I. 74160. Copper phthalocyanine commonly maps to CAS 147\u201114\u20118; see the compound record on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/compound\/Copper-phthalocyanine\"><strong>PubChem for Copper phthalocyanine<\/strong><\/a> for corroborating identifiers.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Why the alpha form matters: \u03b1\u2011CuPc can convert to \u03b2 under thermal\/solvent\/energy stress. This often shifts hue slightly greener, can reduce tinting strength, and alters fastness\/migration behaviors. Spectral libraries such as IRUG differentiate \u03b1 vs \u03b2 signatures; explore the PB15 index via the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.irug.org\/search-spectral-database\/spectra-index\"><strong>IRUG spectral database index<\/strong><\/a> for context on polymorph identification.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Properties and practical ranges for pigment blue 15:0<\/h2>\n<p>Exact values depend on grade, surface treatment, and dispersion state. Always confirm on the specific TDS.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<p>Hue and strength: Red\u2011shade blue; typically high chroma and strong tinting.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Lightfastness: Very good to excellent in many media (PB15 family often reports Blue Wool ~7\u20138; substrate and loading dependent).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Oil absorption: \u226445 cc\/100 g (example data set reported in a PB15.0 TDS).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Bulk density: ~1.5 g\/cm\u00b3 (reported range; grade dependent).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>pH (aqueous paste context): ~6\u20137.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Sieve residue (45 \u03bcm): &lt;1%.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Moisture: \u22641%.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Solvent fastness (scale 1\u20135, 5 = best): Ethyl alcohol 5; Ethyl acetate 5; Xylene 5; MEK 4\u20135; Mineral spirit 5.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Heat resistance: Suitable around 180\u2013200 \u00b0C for short exposures when properly formulated; beyond this band, \u03b1\u2192\u03b2 conversion risk rises, especially in aromatic\u2011rich matrices.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Data source for representative ranges: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vipulorganics.com\/Suntone%20Blue%20Pigments%20TDS\/Suntone%20Pigment%20Blue%2015.0%20TDS%20.pdf\"><strong>Vipul Organics \u2014 Pigment Blue 15.0 TDS (PDF)<\/strong><\/a>. For polymorph context and \u03b1\/\u03b2 distinctions, refer to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.irug.org\/search-spectral-database\/spectra-index\"><strong>IRUG PB15 entries<\/strong><\/a>. Values vary by grade and testing method.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Processing and dispersion guidance (managing \u03b1\u2192\u03b2 risk)<\/h2>\n<p>Achieving stable color with PB15:0 is about controlling temperature, solvent quality, and energy input.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<p>Control milling temperature: Use coolant circulation on high\u2011shear equipment to prevent adiabatic heat spikes that can encourage phase drift.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Stage the energy: Ramp dispersion energy rather than hitting maximum load immediately; verify grind with a Hegman gauge while keeping temperature in check.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Solvent choice: Favor aliphatic\/oxygenated systems for tougher dispersions; use care with aromatic\/ketone\u2011rich blends during high energy milling.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Waterborne specifics: CuPc pigments have low intrinsic polarity\u2014pair nonionic\/anionic dispersants suited to your resin, and ensure full wetting before applying high shear.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Plastics\/masterbatching: Keep extrusion temperatures and residence times as low as process allows (often \u2264~200 \u00b0C short dwell for \u03b1\u2011grades); test post\u2011processing color drift via controlled thermal soaks.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>QC checks: If available, spot\u2011check \u03b1\/\u03b2 state using Raman\/FTIR alongside practical application tests.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Applications and limits<\/h2>\n<p>PB15:0 excels when a clean red\u2011shade blue and transparency are desired under moderate processing conditions. It is less appropriate in aggressive solvent environments or high\u2011temperature plastics.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Printing inks<\/h3>\n<p>Common in water\u2011based and selected solvent\u2011based packaging\/publication inks that do not rely on CMYK cyan standards. For ink formulators, also see our <a href=\"\/tr\/pigment-yellow-139-inks\/\">PY139 ink application guide<\/a> for yellow counterpart selection in balanced ink sets. Monitor aromatic content in vehicles and keep milling temperatures controlled to preserve the \u03b1 state. As a practical example in inks and coatings workflows, the grade <a target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow\" class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/uz\/mahsulot\/hp-blue-4467-pigment-blue-150\/\"><strong>HP BLUE 4467<\/strong><\/a> can be used where a red\u2011shade blue PB15:0 is desired in balanced, moderate\u2011bake systems.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kaplamalar<\/h3>\n<p>Used in certain architectural and industrial coatings where vivid red\u2011shade blue and good lightfastness are needed, provided bake schedules and solvent packages are not overly aggressive. For a broader selection of blue pigments across the PB15 family, explore our <a href=\"\/tr\/urun-kategori\/organik-pigmentler\/pigments-for-coatings\/\">coatings pigments catalog<\/a>. provided bake schedules and solvent packages are not overly aggressive. Stabilized PB15 variants are typically preferred for high\u2011bake or high\u2011aromatic formulations.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plastikler<\/h3>\n<p>Best suited to PVC and lower\u2011temperature polyolefins (e.g., LDPE films) processed below roughly 180\u2013200 \u00b0C with short dwell. For plastics formulators seeking higher-temperature blue options, browse our <a href=\"\/tr\/urun-kategori\/organik-pigmentler\/pigments-for-plastics\/\">plastics pigments catalog<\/a> for stabilized PB15:3\/15:4 alternatives. Color drift or shade shift can appear in PS, ABS, or PET due to higher processing temperatures and aromatic character that favor \u03b1\u2192\u03b2 conversion. For plastics formulations, a PB15:0 grade such as <a target=\"_self\" rel=\"follow\" class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/uz\/mahsulot\/hp-blue-43143-pigment-blue-150\/\"><strong>HP BLUE 43143<\/strong><\/a> is commonly selected for PVC or low\u2011temperature polyolefin applications where a redder shade is specified.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">PB15 family at a glance (high\u2011level)<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\">\n<table class=\"has-fixed-layout\">\n<colgroup>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/><\/colgroup>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Attribute<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>PB15:0 (\u03b1, non\u2011stabilized)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>PB15:1\/15:2 (\u03b1\u2011modified)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<th colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>PB15:3\/15:4 (\u03b2\u2011modified, stabilized)<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Shade<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Red\u2011shade blue<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Red\u2011 to mid\u2011blue (grade dependent)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Greener blue vs \u03b1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Crystallographic stability<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Lower; sensitive to heat\/solvents\/energy<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Improved vs PB15:0<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Highest stability<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Heat window (short dwell)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>~180\u2013200 \u00b0C (grade dependent)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>~190 \u00b0C typical (system dependent)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Generally more robust in high\u2011bake<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Solvent robustness<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Good in many systems; sensitive during high\u2011energy milling in aromatics\/ketones<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Generally good<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Good to excellent<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Typical fit<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Watercolors, educational materials; selected inks\/coatings; PVC\/LDPE<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Broad \u03b1\u2011blue uses where red shade is desired<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td colspan=\"1\" rowspan=\"1\">\n<p>Aggressive inks, high\u2011bake coatings, higher\u2011temp plastics<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Context and corroboration: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.irug.org\/search-spectral-database\/spectra-index\"><strong>IRUG spectral entries for PB15 polymorphs<\/strong><\/a> and representative TDS such as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vipulorganics.com\/Suntone%20Blue%20Pigments%20TDS\/Suntone%20Pigment%20Blue%2015.0%20TDS%20.pdf\"><strong>Vipul PB15.0<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ and troubleshooting for formulators<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<p>Is pigment blue 15:0 the same as CMYK cyan? No. PB15:0 is a red\u2011shade blue and is not the standard cyan used in four\u2011color process inks.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>How do I tell if \u03b1\u2192\u03b2 conversion occurred? Look for a subtle shift toward a greener blue and a drop in tinting strength. Confirm with a controlled thermal soak and, if available, Raman\/FTIR.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>What\u2019s a practical safe processing temperature? Many PB15:0 grades tolerate around 180\u2013200 \u00b0C for short exposures; always test in your system and consult the specific TDS.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Any special tips for waterborne dispersions? Pre\u2011wet thoroughly with an appropriate nonionic\/anionic dispersant blend, then apply controlled high shear with active cooling to avoid temperature spikes.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Can I use PB15:0 in ABS or PET? It is generally not recommended due to higher processing temperatures and the propensity for \u03b1\u2192\u03b2 conversion; stabilized PB15 variants are usually preferred.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Why does solvent choice matter during milling? Aromatic\/ketone\u2011rich blends combined with high energy can swell pigment crystallites and accelerate phase drift; staged energy and cooling help maintain the \u03b1 form.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">References and further reading<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\n<p>Colour Index authority for pigment nomenclature: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/colour-index.com\"><strong>Colour Index International<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Spectral identification and polymorph context: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link\" href=\"http:\/\/www.irug.org\/search-spectral-database\/spectra-index\"><strong>IRUG spectral database index for PB15 family<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Representative quantitative ranges (oil absorption, density, solvent fastness, heat window): <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vipulorganics.com\/Suntone%20Blue%20Pigments%20TDS\/Suntone%20Pigment%20Blue%2015.0%20TDS%20.pdf\"><strong>Vipul Organics \u2014 Pigment Blue 15.0 TDS (PDF)<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>General compound identifiers and CAS mapping: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/compound\/Copper-phthalocyanine\"><strong>PubChem \u2014 Copper phthalocyanine<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\" \/>\n<p>If you\u2019re evaluating PB15 grades for inks, coatings, or plastics, consider short lab trials under your real processing temperatures and solvent packages, and compare \u03b1\u2011 and \u03b2\u2011stabilized options side\u2011by\u2011side to confirm the fit for your application.<\/p>\n<hr style=\"margin-top:40px;margin-bottom:20px;border:0;border-top:1px solid #e0e0e0\"\/>\n<p style=\"font-size:0.85em;color:#666\"><strong>Disclaimer:<\/strong> This article is for general reference only. Always verify specifications with our team and review the current <a href=\"\/tr\/disclaimer\/\">full legal disclaimer<\/a>, TDS and SDS before product use.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Authoritative guide to Pigment Blue 15:0 (PB15:0): CI\/CAS, properties, processing limits and applications in inks, coatings and plastics. Includes HP BLUE 4467 and HP BLUE 43143.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8468,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"Pigment Blue 15:0 (PB15:0): definition,","rank_math_description":"Authoritative guide to Pigment Blue 15:0 (PB15:0): CI\/CAS, properties, processing limits and applications in inks, coatings and plastics. Includes HP BLUE 4467 and HP BLUE 43143.","rank_math_robots":"","_rank_math_focus_keyword":"pigment blue 15:0","rank_math_seo_score":"66","footnotes":""},"categories":[421],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technical-deep-dives"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8469"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8469\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9174,"href":"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8469\/revisions\/9174"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8468"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.honorpigment.com\/tr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}