PY 53 – nickel titanium yellow

It is used as a replacement for naples yellow

Manufacturer/ product code:  Kremer / 43200
Chemical Description:  nickel antimony titanium rutile
Color: yellow
Color Index: PY 53
Date:  from 1954

PY 53 – Nickel Titanium Yellow is an inorganic pigment composed of a complex oxide of nickel and titanium. It is valued for its bright, warm yellow hue, excellent opacity, chemical stability, and lightfastness. PY 53 is widely used in industrial coatings, plastics, inks, and high-performance paints, as well as in fine art materials where long-lasting yellow tones are required.

Chemically, PY 53 is based on a crystalline oxide lattice in which nickel ions modify the optical properties of titanium dioxide. This inorganic structure provides exceptional resistance to light, heat, and chemical degradation, ensuring color permanence over extended periods. The combination of nickel and titanium results in a slightly warmer, more saturated yellow compared to unmodified titanium dioxide, with enhanced opacity and tinting strength.

In practical applications, Nickel Titanium Yellow exhibits strong coverage and semi-opaque to opaque behavior depending on particle size and formulation. Its bright warm hue mixes cleanly with other yellows, oranges, and reds to produce a wide range of warm tones. Its chemical and light stability make it particularly suitable for industrial coatings, automotive finishes, plastics, and architectural paints, as well as for professional artists’ paints that require durability.

From a conservation perspective, PY 53 is highly stable and chemically inert, maintaining chromatic purity and brightness over long periods, even in complex pigment mixtures.