Last updated: 2026-01
Material Identity
- Chemical name: Bismuth vanadate
- Color Index designation: Pigment Yellow 184 (PY184)
- Representative formula: BiVO4 (may include controlled dopants depending on grade)
- CAS number: 14059-33-7
- Physical form: inorganic pigment powder
- What it is not: not an organic pigment, not a dye, not a lead or cadmium chromate pigment
Activation & Trigger Conditions
- Trigger: interaction with visible light
- Energy domain: electronic transitions within the bismuth–vanadate crystal lattice
- Absent trigger: no color expression without light interaction
- Insufficient condition: poor dispersion or agglomeration reduces brightness and chroma
- Excess condition: excessive shear or incompatible processing can alter surface treatment and optical appearance
Functional Role
- Provides yellow coloration with high chromatic cleanliness
- Maintains color stability under processing and service conditions
- Enables replacement of heavy-metal yellow pigments
- Supports consistent tinting and color matching in formulations
Application Windows
- Compatible systems: solvent-borne and water-borne coatings, plastics, masterbatches, inks
- Loading range: formulation-dependent; no universal loading applies
- Processing notes: dispersion quality, particle size control, and surface treatment govern opacity and transparency balance
Limitations & Failure Modes
- Poor dispersion → increased light scattering → dull color or haze
- Incompatible binder system → pigment flocculation → color shift or gloss loss
- Over-processing → surface modification damage → reduced color consistency
Alternatives & Trade-offs
- Organic yellow pigments: higher transparency but lower thermal and weather stability
- Cadmium yellows: strong opacity but regulatory and environmental constraints
- Lead chromate pigments: high brightness but restricted due to toxicity
When to Use
- When clean, bright yellow coloration is required
- When inorganic pigment durability is preferred
- When replacing lead or cadmium-based pigments
- When long-term color stability is critical
FAQ
Is high-purity bismuth vanadate transparent or opaque?
Transparency and opacity depend on particle size distribution, surface treatment, and dispersion rather than chemistry alone.
Can it be used in high-temperature plastics?
As an inorganic pigment, it generally tolerates higher processing temperatures than organic yellow pigments.
Why does color tone vary between formulations?
Differences typically arise from dispersion quality, pigment concentration, and interaction with the binder or resin system.
Data
No numerical values are listed. Color strength, opacity, heat stability, and weather resistance are grade- and formulation-specific and should be verified via COA and application testing.
Sources
Supplier technical documentation for PY184 grades and general literature on bismuth vanadate inorganic pigments.