Applications

Pigments for PP

Pigment recommendations for pp with technical checks and export enquiry support.

Polypropylene combines a high processing temperature with strong crystallinity, making it one of the more demanding polyolefins for organic pigment selection. Pigments must be heat stable for hot injection and fibre processes and, crucially, must not nucleate crystallisation and warp thin, flat or long-flow parts. Colour cleanliness in packaging, housewares and fibres also matters. Buyers should specify high-heat, non-warping grades validated in PP, confirm dispersion at fibre-fine let-downs where relevant, and check light and weather fastness for any outdoor or automotive-interior applications.

At a glance

What Pigments for PP covers

High-heat grades required

PP processes hot, so pigments need strong heat stability to survive injection and fibre extrusion without darkening or losing strength.

Strict warpage control

PP is very sensitive to pigment nucleation; specify non-warping grades for flat lids, thin-wall parts and long-flow mouldings.

Fibre-fine dispersion

PP fibre and tape need pigments dispersed extremely fine so they pass spinnerets without filter blocking or filament breaks.

Outdoor and interior fastness

Automotive-interior and outdoor PP require weatherfast pigments that resist fading under sunlight through the window or open exposure.

Recommended pigments

High-demand grades to consider

A starting shortlist of export-grade organic pigments relevant to Pigments for PP. Open any grade for shade, fastness and packing detail, or send your requirement for a matched recommendation.

Pigment Pastes

Polyester Pigment Paste

Polyester Paste

Dispersion paste designed for polyester resin coloration.

View export grade Green Pigments

Phthalocyanine Green 7

Pigment Green 7

Chlorinated phthalocyanine green for durable industrial coloration.

View export grade Yellow Pigments

Pigment Yellow 138

PY138

High-performance yellow for demanding coating and plastic requirements.

View export grade Orange Pigments

Pigment Orange 13

PO13

Diarylide orange used for inks, textiles, and industrial colorants.

View export grade Pigment Pastes

Water Based Pigment Paste

Water Based Paste

Water-dispersible pigment paste for coatings and textile systems.

View export grade

View the full portfolio Technical data sheets

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Related pages & export hub

Answers

Pigments for PP — frequently asked questions

Why is PP considered demanding for organic pigments?

PP combines high processing temperature with strong crystallinity, so a pigment must be both heat stable and non-nucleating. Many pigments fail one requirement or the other. This narrows the usable set, making validated high-heat, non-warping PP grades essential rather than optional for quality moulded and fibre products.

How do pigments cause warpage in polypropylene?

Certain organic pigments act as nucleating agents, increasing crystallinity and changing shrinkage unevenly across a part. In flat lids, thin walls or long-flow mouldings this shows as warp or distortion. Non-warping grades are formulated and selected to avoid altering PP's crystallisation behaviour.

What is special about colouring PP fibre?

PP fibre and slit tape are spun through fine spinnerets, so pigment must be dispersed extremely finely to avoid blocking filters and breaking filaments. High heat stability and non-nucleation still apply. Fibre colouring therefore uses carefully conditioned, finely milled pigment grades, usually via masterbatch.

Can pigments used in LDPE go straight into PP?

Not reliably. PP runs hotter and is more warpage sensitive than LDPE, so a pigment adequate for cool LDPE film may darken or distort PP parts. Always confirm the grade is heat rated and warp tested specifically for polypropylene before transferring it across polyolefins.

Buyer knowledge base

Pigments for PP: a quick sourcing guide

A concise sourcing reference — how grade, shade and fastness are matched to your process, and what to send to get a qualified quotation quickly.

Fastness that fits

Heat, light, weather, solvent and migration resistance matched to the end use, not over-specified.

Manufacturer-direct

Sourced at origin through an in-house export desk — one contact from sample to shipment.

Colour strength

High tinting strength means less pigment per batch and cleaner, more economical shades.

Weatherable choices

For outdoor use, phthalocyanine and DPP grades keep colour through sun and weather.