PR 176 – benzimidazolone carmine

PR 176 – Benzimidazolone Carmine is a synthetic organic pigment belonging to the benzimidazolone azo family, a class developed to provide vivid reds with significantly improved permanence compared to traditional azo pigments. Introduced in the late 20th century, PR 176 represents the evolution of high-performance organic reds designed for both artistic and industrial reliability.

In color, PR 176 appears as a deep carmine red with a subtle bluish undertone, combining richness with clarity. It is generally semi-opaque, offering good covering power while retaining sufficient transparency for nuanced layering and mixing. Compared to classic carmine or naphthol reds, benzimidazolone carmine shows greater chromatic stability and less tendency to fade or darken over time. In mixtures, it produces strong violets with blues and elegant, muted browns with earth pigments, making it versatile across a wide tonal range.

Technically, PR 176 is prized for its excellent lightfastness, thermal resistance, and chemical stability. It performs reliably in demanding applications such as automotive coatings, plastics, and high-quality printing inks. In artists’ paints, PR 176 is valued as a modern, permanent alternative to historic organic carmine pigments, offering a deep, expressive red with the durability expected from contemporary high-performance colorants.