Iron Oxide Pigments for concrete and cement bricks coloring
Basic Identification
Iron oxide pigments are inorganic color pigments mainly composed of iron oxides and iron hydroxides. As one of the most widely‑produced and commonly‑used inorganic mineral pigments, they are available in red, yellow, black, brown, orange and composite iron‑green. They include natural iron oxides (such as ochre minerals) and synthetic iron oxide pigments (the mainstream for industrial applications).
Key Properties
1.Excellent weather resistance
Resistant to UV radiation, sunlight and rain. Hardly fade or chalk under long‑term outdoor exposure, ideal for outdoor building materials.
2.Good light fastness
Color remains stable under light without migration or discoloration.
3.Acid & alkali resistance
Stable in weak acid and weak‑alkali environments; slowly soluble in concentrated strong acids. Color stable in alkaline concrete and cement systems.
4.Heat resistance
‑ Iron oxide red: heat‑resistant up to 800‑1000℃
‑ Iron oxide yellow: turns red by dehydration at 180‑200℃, discolors at excessive temperature
‑ Iron oxide black: prone to oxidation and turns red above 300℃
5.High hiding power & tinting strength, good dispersibility, non‑toxic and eco‑friendly. Free of heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, suitable for building materials and rubber‑plastic products.
6.Limitations: Poor transparency; iron oxide yellow cannot withstand high‑temperature processing; poor dispersion may cause floating and flooding in certain systems.
Common grades: Iron oxide red (Fe₂O₃), Iron oxide yellow (FeOOH), Iron oxide black (Fe₃O₄), Iron oxide brown (blend of iron oxide red & black), Composite iron oxide green (physical blend of iron oxide yellow & phthalocyanine blue).
Main Applications
1. Building Materials (largest consumption field)
‑ Integral coloring for concrete, cement bricks, permeable bricks, colored roof tiles, floor screeds and terrazzo by mixing into cement slurry; alkali‑resistant and non‑fading.
‑ Color mortar, real‑stone paint and exterior wall coatings for decorative purposes.
2. Paints & Coatings
‑ Interior & exterior architectural coatings, anti‑rust primers, industrial anti‑corrosive coatings, road marking paints. Iron oxide red provides anti‑rust performance for anti‑rust coatings.
3. Plastics & Rubber
‑ PVC, PP, PE and rubber goods such as floor tiles, plastic parts and rubber runways. Note: processing temperature for iron oxide yellow shall not exceed 200℃.
4. Inks
‑ Mainly used in water‑based inks and cement printing inks. Not suitable for high‑temperature baking inks (iron oxide yellow discolors under heat).
5. Paper & Leather
‑ Coloration for paper and artificial leather to achieve earth‑yellow, brick‑red and coffee‑brown base tones.
6. Other Applications
‑ Raw materials for ceramics, abrasives and magnetic materials.
‑ Cosmetic‑grade high‑purity iron oxides for makeup products.
‑ Feed‑grade iron oxides as iron‑fortifying feed additives.
Packaging, Storage & Transportation
Standard package: 25kg woven bag / fibre drum. Store hermetically, keep dry. Do not store together with strong oxidants.
