PR 265 – cerium sulfide red

Manufacturer/ product code:  Kremer / 42300
Chemical Description:  cerium sulfide
Color: red
Color Index: PR 265
Date:  —

PR 265 – Cerium Sulfide Red is an inorganic pigment belonging to the rare-earth sulfide family, distinguished by its bright, slightly orange-leaning red hue and exceptional thermal and chemical stability. Unlike most modern red pigments, which are organic, PR 265 is based on cerium sulfide (Ce₂S₃ or related non-stoichiometric phases), giving it properties more comparable to traditional mineral pigments than to contemporary synthetic organics.

Chemically, cerium sulfide forms a crystalline structure that is highly resistant to light, heat, and weathering. The pigment exhibits excellent opacity and maintains color integrity at very high temperatures, making it particularly suitable for ceramics, glass coloration, high-temperature plastics, and specialized industrial coatings. Its stability under extreme conditions distinguishes it from organic reds, which may degrade or discolor when exposed to prolonged heat or UV radiation.

In artistic and decorative applications, PR 265 offers a strong, opaque red with a solid, slightly earthy character. While it lacks the high chroma and tinting strength of pyrrole or quinacridone reds, it provides excellent covering power and color permanence. Its inorganic nature also gives it predictable behavior in mixtures, often producing subdued, natural reds and oranges when combined with earth pigments or iron oxides.