The history and development of yellow pigments represent a profound transition from ancient mineral finds to modern chemical engineering. The earliest known yellow colorants were natural earth pigments, such as Yellow Ochre , which primarily contained hydrated iron oxides. Civilizations in ancient Egypt, Asia, and Greece utilized the vivid, arsenic-based mineral Orpiment for decorative and artistic purposes. During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance era, the vibrant Lead Tin Yellow became a staple in European panel paintings. The onset of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century introduced synthetic inorganic heavy-metal pigments like Cadmium Yellow and Chrome Yellow . These provided brilliance and lightfastness that natural earths could not achieve and were heavily utilized by Impressionist painters to capture the fleeting effects of natural light. In the contemporary context, the industry has largely moved towards the creation of organic pigments, primarily the Azo and condensation derivatives (such as the PY series listed below). These modern compounds offer high tinting strength and improved durability, effectively replacing toxic heavy-metal pigments in artists’ paints and industrial coatings. Following this historical progression, the guide below details the specific technical properties and applications of these various organic and inorganic yellow pigment powders.
Pigment Yellow 1
Colour Description: Reddish-yellow with high saturation.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent.
A member of the monoazo Hansa yellow series, Pigment Yellow 1 is an organic pigment known for a bright and clean hue. It possesses moderate tinting strength and is commonly incorporated into general-purpose paints and inks. Its lightfastness is typically considered acceptable for indoor applications, though exposure to intense ultraviolet light can accelerate fading. For applications requiring enhanced light stability, alternative pigments from the azo condensation family may be considered.
Pigment Yellow 3
Colour Description: Clear greenish-yellow hue.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent.
PY 3 is a monoazo yellow pigment widely utilized in commercial applications. It presents a distinct greenish-yellow shade and possesses high tinting strength, making it suitable for various printing inks and industrial colour concentrates. When blended with darker pigments, its colour direction creates clear yellowish-green shades. The lightfastness of PY 3 depends largely on the specific medium and film thickness; it is generally considered to perform well in thick film states, but its durability can reduce in thin film coatings. For applications demanding higher weather resistance, Benzimidazolone Yellow PY 175 can serve as a reference.
Pigment Yellow 12
Colour Description: Greenish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent.
As a member of the disazo pigment family, Pigment Yellow 12 is a cost-effective pigment characterized by high tinting strength and clean colouration. It is widely utilized in the production of industrial printing inks . However, its lightfastness and heat resistance remain moderate, and exposure to elevated temperatures during processing may cause noticeable hue shifts. Consequently, it is predominantly reserved for indoor applications where extreme weather resistance is not required.
Pigment Yellow 13
Colour Description: Medium yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Transparent.
A disazo pigment, Pigment Yellow 13 exhibits exceptionally high tinting strength and adequate solvent
resistance. Because of its robust economy and strong colour development, it is a standard pigment found within solvent-based printing ink systems. Its thermal stability is average, and like many diarylide yellows, its resistance to outdoor weathering is limited compared to high-performance alternatives.
Pigment Yellow 14
Colour Description: Reddish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent.
A member of the disazo pigment family, Pigment Yellow 14 is noted for a red-shifted yellow hue with high colour saturation. It is extensively used in offset printing inks and industrial paint formulations due to its solid tinting strength. While it provides excellent coverage in thin layers, its thermal and chemical stability are relatively limited, making it unsuitable for high-temperature polymer applications or highly aggressive chemical environments.
Pigment Yellow 17
Colour Description: Greenish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent.
Pigment Yellow 17 is an organic disazo pigment that delivers a clean greenish-yellow colour. It demonstrates moderate tinting strength and is often utilized in plastic coloration and printing inks. The pigment’s thermal stability is somewhat limited, and under high processing temperatures in thermoplastics , it can suffer from significant colour degradation or migration, restricting its use to lower-temperature plastics.
Pigment Yellow 55
Colour Description: Orange-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Opaque.
Classified as a monoazo lake pigment , Pigment Yellow 55 is precipitated onto an inorganic substrate to create an insoluble colourant. Due to this inherent structure, it exhibits an exceptionally high hiding power and remarkable tinting strength. It is primarily applied in industrial paints and coatings. Its lightfastness is moderate; therefore, it is generally suitable for interior use where prolonged sun exposure is not anticipated.
Pigment Yellow 62
Colour Description: Neutral yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent.
This monoazo pigment provides a clean, neutral yellow tone. It features moderate tinting strength and is mainly employed in industrial coatings and water-based ink systems. While it offers acceptable colour properties for general purposes, its overall weatherfastness is average, meaning it is best utilized for indoor applications or layers protected by a clear topcoat.
Pigment Yellow 65
Colour Description: Reddish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Transparent.
As a monoazo Hansa yellow pigment, Pigment Yellow 65 yields a brightly saturated reddish-yellow hue. It is valued for its colour purity and is utilized in some solvent-based lacquers and paints. However, its heat resistance is generally poor, which precludes its use in high-temperature processing of polymers or in stoving enamels that require baking at elevated temperatures.
Pigment Yellow 74
Colour Description: Pure greenish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent.
Pigment Yellow 74 is a monoazo pigment from the Hansa yellow series. It is distinguished by its exceptionally high tinting strength and a clean, saturated greenish-yellow colour. Compared to other common azo yellows, it demonstrates superior lightfastness and weather resistance. This makes it a common choice for outdoor coatings, including automotive finishes, where extended durability is a necessity.
Pigment Yellow 81
Colour Description: Greenish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent to transparent.
A disazo pigment, Pigment Yellow 81 features good tinting strength and bright colour characteristics. It is frequently used in the printing ink industry to produce clean, cool-yellow tones for commercial printed materials. Its resistance to solvent and light is moderate, and over prolonged outdoor exposure, it will show noticeable fading compared to high-performance organic pigments.
Pigment Yellow 83
Colour Description: Reddish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent.
Among the diarylide yellow series, Pigment Yellow 83 is considered one of the most robust. It has a strong, reddish-yellow hue and demonstrates the best lightfastness and heat resistance in this specific chemical group. With exceptionally high tinting strength, it is widely adopted in demanding applications such as automotive finishes and high-quality industrial coatings that require durability.
Pigment Yellow 93
Colour Description: Reddish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Transparent.
Pigment Yellow 93 belongs to the azo condensation pigment family. Because of its larger molecular weight compared to monoazo or diarylide pigments, it exhibits substantially enhanced resistance to heat, light, and migration. It is used in demanding environments, such as engineering plastics and industrial baking enamels, offering improved stability and durability in high-temperature cure cycles.
Pigment Yellow 110
Colour Description: Orange-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Transparent.
An azo condensation pigment, Pigment Yellow 110 provides an orange-yellow hue with excellent purity. It is known for good outdoor durability and weatherfastness. Therefore, it is frequently formulated into automotive refinish paints and weather-resistant plastics where colour retention over extended periods of sun exposure is critically important.
Pigment Yellow 138
Colour Description: Greenish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Transparent.
Pigment Yellow 138 is a high-performance organic quinophthalone (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quinophthalone) pigment. It is characterized by outstanding lightfastness, heat resistance, and resistance to migration in polymers. The pigment maintains its brilliant greenish-yellow shade even under severe processing conditions. Consequently, it is widely applied in high-end industrial coatings, powder coatings , and engineering plastics for exterior use.
Pigment Yellow 139
Colour Description: Greenish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent.
As a member of the isoindoline pigment family, Pigment Yellow 139 offers exceptional lightfastness and weather resistance. In addition, it is an environmentally friendly alternative to lead chromate pigments. With its brilliant greenish-yellow shade, it is heavily utilized in high-performance industrial coatings, powder coatings, and high-quality automotive paints where safety and durability are crucial.
Pigment Yellow 147
Colour Description: Reddish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Opaque.
Pigment Yellow 147 is an azo lake pigment formed by precipitating a soluble azo dye onto an inorganic base. This results in a pigment with high hiding power and strong colourant strength. It finds regular application in the printing ink industry and industrial paints. However, its solvent resistance is only moderate, limiting its use in aggressive solvent-borne systems.
Pigment Yellow 150
Colour Description: Greenish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent.
Pigment Yellow 150 is a nickel complex azo pigment known for its distinct greenish-yellow shade. A notable feature of this pigment is its exceptional weather and heat stability, rivalling that of many inorganic pigments (). It is ideally suited for exterior industrial finishes, coil coatings (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coil_coating), and powder coatings that demand long-term outdoor durability.
Pigment Yellow 151
Colour Description: Greenish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent.
A member of the high-performance benzimidazolone pigment series, Pigment Yellow 151 delivers an excellent combination of greenish-yellow colour and high stability. It possesses superior resistance to heat, light, and organic solvents (). As a result, it is widely used in the coloration of engineering plastics, high-quality printing inks, and automotive paints that must maintain their integrity in harsh conditions.
Pigment Yellow 154
Colour Description: Greenish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Transparent.
Pigment Yellow 154 is a benzimidazolone pigment prized for its outstanding lightfastness and colour clarity. It is notably found in high-grade artists’ paints and industrial coatings. The pigment resists fading and color shifting even after extended exposure to ultraviolet radiation and high heat, making it a dependable option for long-lasting, high-quality applications.
Pigment Yellow 155
Colour Description: Neutral to reddish yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Transparent.
An azo pigment, Pigment Yellow 155 provides a clean yellowish hue with a slight reddish undertone. It exhibits moderate tinting strength and performs adequately within solvent-based coating systems. Its lightfastness falls within the average range, meaning it is mostly applicable for industrial paints and printing inks used in indoor or protected environments.
Pigment Yellow 168
Colour Description: Greenish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Transparent.
As an azo condensation pigment, Pigment Yellow 168 distinguishes itself through a larger molecular structure , providing superior resistance to heat, light, and migration. Because of these properties, it is used in engineering plastics and automotive coatings, ensuring colour stability and adherence to increasingly strict durability requirements without heavy reliance on heavy metal compositions.
Pigment Yellow 174
Colour Description: Bright yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent to transparent.
Pigment Yellow 174 is an organic azo pigment that imparts a bright yellow hue with strong tinting strength. It is typically utilized in general-purpose inks and coatings. While it performs well in standard indoor environments, its weatherfastness decreases significantly under extreme outdoor conditions or in thin-film applications without protective topcoats.
Pigment Yellow 176
Colour Description: Reddish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent.
A high-performance benzimidazolone pigment, Pigment Yellow 176 provides a distinct, vibrant reddish-yellow orange shade. It is characterized by exceptional resistance to heat, light, and chemicals. The pigment remains stable during high-temperature processing, making it a preferred choice for high-quality thermoplastics, thermosetting coatings, and automotive finishes.
Pigment Yellow 180
Colour Description: Pure greenish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent to transparent.
Pigment Yellow 180 is another member of the benzimidazolone series, known for its excellent resistance to heat and migration in various polymer systems. It stays stable during the high-temperature molding of engineering plastics such as polyproPigment Yellowlene (PP). Its clean greenish-yellow tone, combined with superior fastness properties, makes it reliable for durable plastic and coating applications.
Pigment Yellow 183
Colour Description: Medium yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Semi-transparent.
As a monoazo pigment, Pigment Yellow 183 offers medium-high tinting strength and a generally acceptable yellow shade for industrial use. It is often found in industrial coatings, printing inks, and standard plastics. The pigment’s overall endurance to heat and light is situated at a mid-tier level, which defines its primary use in cost-effective, non-demanding colour formulations.
Pigment Yellow 191
Colour Description: Reddish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Transparent.
Pigment Yellow 191 is an azo pigment that delivers good tinting strength and colour brightness. It is frequently used for hue adjustments in colour printing inks and solvent-based lacquers. Its light and heat resistance are categorized as moderate, meaning it is generally limited to indoor applications where high levels of UV exposure are absent.
Pigment Yellow 34
Colour Description: Bright reddish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Opaque.
Pigment Yellow 34 belongs to the inorganic heavy-metal pigment family, specifically lead chromate . It is chemically characterized by a vivid, saturated red-yellow shade and exceptionally strong hiding power . Although historically widely utilized in industrial paints due to its low cost and high brightness, it contains lead and hexavalent chromium . Due to its significant environmental (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_paint) and health toxicity, its use is heavily restricted in many regions.
Pigment Yellow 42
Colour Description: Earth yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Opaque.
Pigment Yellow 42 is an inorganic ferric oxide hydrate pigment. It displays a natural, muted earth yellow tone and possesses complete opacity with outstanding hiding power. Pigment Yellow 42 is chemically highly stable, offering supreme lightfastness, weather durability, and resistance to alkaline environments. It is also non-toxic and inexpensive, leading to widespread use in exterior architectural coatings, cement pigmentation, and anti-corrosive primers.
Pigment Yellow 53
Colour Description: Light lemon yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Opaque.
Pigment Yellow 53 is an inorganic mixed metal oxide pigment composed of titanium and nickel oxide. It provides a pale lemon yellow colour with significant opacity. Its most prominent characteristic is exceptional thermal stability , weather resistance, and chemical inertness. It remains stable even under high temperatures and exposure to strong acids or alkalis, making it suitable for high-temperature coatings, plastics, and ceramics.
Pigment Yellow 119
Colour Description: Yellowish-brown.
Transparency/Opacity: Opaque.
As an inorganic pigment, Pigment Yellow 119 is a zinc-iron complex oxide . It exhibits good weatherability, lightfastness, and superior anti-corrosion properties. Because of its rust-inhibiting characteristics, it is heavily utilized in marine paints, anti-rust primers, and other heavy-duty protective coatings intended to withstand harsh corrosive environments.
Pigment Yellow 164
Colour Description: Pale yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Opaque.
Pigment Yellow 164 is an inorganic pigment based on a manganese () titanate mixed metal oxide. It offers high opacity and a pale yellowish hue. It exhibits excellent heat and chemical resistance, while also being non-toxic. This pigment is generally applied in high-temperature industrial paints, outdoor plastics, and ceramic glazes where colour stability under thermal stress is required.
Pigment Yellow 184
Colour Description: Bright greenish-yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Opaque.
Pigment Yellow 184 is an inorganic mixed metal oxide pigment composed of bismuth vanadate . It is widely recognized as an environmentally friendly, non-toxic replacement for the highly toxic lead chromate yellows. The pigment provides a bright, greenish-yellow hue with excellent hiding power, combined with superb lightfastness, heat resistance, and chemical durability. It is frequently used in premium automotive topcoats, coil coatings, and outdoor architectural paints.
Pigment Yellow 216
Colour Description: Pale yellow.
Transparency/Opacity: Opaque.
Pigment Yellow 216 is an inorganic mixed metal oxide pigment, specifically a tin antimony oxide complex. It displays a pale yellow shade with complete opacity. Its primary distinction is its exceptional high-temperature stability; it can withstand sintering processes without colour degradation. Because of this unique property, it is predominantly utilized in ceramics, enamel glazing, and specialized high-temperature industrial coatings.