UV Fluorescent Pigments for Security Printing
365nm and selected 254nm organic and inorganic pigments for covert printing, authentication and industrial marking
Engineered for security printing and anti-counterfeit applications, Nichwell’s UV fluorescent pigments are designed to provide vivid fluorescence and controlled batch-to-batch consistency.
- Visible and low-daylight-visibility grades
- 365 nm and selected 254 nm excitation options
- Organic and inorganic pigment series
- Test samples, TDS and SDS available
Tell us your UV wavelength, binder, process temperature and required emission color. We will recommend a suitable grade for testing.
in daylight or in the dark
under UV light
Which UV Pigment is Right for Your Project?
1. Developing Security Inks for Printing?
Recommended: 365 nm Organic UV Pigments
Engineered for offset, flexo, gravure, and screen-printing. Delivers intense fluorescence, excellent dispersion, and near-zero daylight visibility on paper, security documents, and packaging.
2. Developing Short-Wave UV Security Features?
Recommended: 254 nm UV Fluorescent Pigments
Provides dual-band or covert verification for banknotes, tax stamps, and official IDs. Requires specialized 254 nm short-wave excitation, making counterfeiting extremely difficult.
3. High-Temperature Plastics, Masterbatches, or Exterior Coatings?
Recommended: 365 nm / 254 nm Inorganic UV Pigments
Formulated with high-durability inorganic rare-earth complexes. Offers exceptional thermal stability (selected grades tolerate 250°C–600°C), superior lightfastness, and zero solvent bleed for plastic injection, glass, and ceramic coatings.
Thermal limits vary by color, grade and processing conditions. Application testing is required.
365 nm & 254 nm UV Fluorescent Pigments Series:
Series 1: 365 nm Organic UV Fluorescent Pigments
- Best For: Security inks, offset/textile printing, invisible markers.
- Key Properties: Bright fluorescence, fine particle-size options and grades designed for compatible security ink and printing systems.(Dispersion and solvent compatibility should be evaluated in the customer’s actual binder and ink formulation.)
- Daylight Appearance: Off-white / light pinkish powder
- Particle Size: 1 – 15 µm (Customizable)
Available Colors & Emission (Under 365nm):
| Product Type | Daylight Appearance | Under 365 nm UV Light | Emission Peak | Particle Size (PSD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red ↗ | Pinkish powder | Bright Red | 610 ± 5 nm | D50 ≤ 15 µm |
| Green ↗ | Off-white powder | Green | 494 ± 5 nm | D50 ≤ 4.5 μm |
| Yellow-green ↗ | Off-white powder | Bright Yellow-green | 530 ± 5 nm | D50 ≤ 4.5 μm |
| Blue ↗ | Off-white powder | Blue | 440 ± 5 nm | D50 ≤ 10 µm |
| Yellow ↗ | Off-white powder | Bright Yellow | 544 ± 5 nm | D50 ≤ 5 µm |
| Orange ↗ | Off-white powder | Orange | 580 ± 5 nm | D50 ≤ 5 µm |
| White ↗ | Light-yellow powder | White | Peak I: 449 ± 5 nm Peak II: 539 ± 5 nm | D50 ≤ 8 µm |
Series 2: 365 nm Inorganic UV Fluorescent Pigments
- Best For: High-temperature plastics (PP, PE, PC, PA), ceramic coatings, outdoor anti-counterfeit markings.
- Key Properties: High thermal threshold (up to 400°C–600°C depending on color), non-migrating, maximum lightfastness.
- Particle Size: 1 – 10 µm (D50 customizable)
Available Colors: Inorganic Red, Yellow, Green, Yellow-green, Blue, Orange, White, Purple.
| Product Code / Color | Appearance Under Daylight | Under 365 nm UV Light | Main Emission Peak | Heat Stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inorganic Red ↗ | White / Pale Pink powder | Vivid Red | 615 ± 5 nm | Up to 600°C |
| Inorganic Green ↗ | White / Off-white powder | Brilliant Green | 525 ± 5 nm | Up to 400°C |
| Inorganic Yellow ↗ | Off-white powder | Yellow | 545 ± 5 nm | Up to 350°C |
| Inorganic Blue ↗ | White powder | Blue | 450 ± 5 nm | Up to 400°C |
| Inorganic Yellow-green ↗ | Off-white powder | Yellow-green | 535 ± 5 nm | Up to 400°C |
Series 3: 254 nm Organic/ Inorganic UV Fluorescent Pigments
- Best For: High-security applications (banknotes, IDs, tax stamps), forensic evidence marking.
- Key Properties: Extremely low daylight visibility, high spectral purity. Requires specialized 254nm excitation.
- Chemistry: Available in both Organic and Inorganic formulas.
Safety Note: 254 nm UV sources require suitable shielding, eye protection and safe operating procedures.
Available Colors & Emission (Under 254nm):
| Product Type / Grade | Daylight Appearance | Fluorescent Color (365nm) | Emission Peak | Particle Size (PSD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Organic Red ↗ | Off-white powder | Red | 610 ± 5 nm | D50 ≤ 6 µm |
| Organic Orange ↗ | Off-white powder | Orange | 580 ± 5 nm | D50 ≤ 6 µm |
| Organic Yellow ↗ | Off-white powder | Yellow | 560 ± 5 nm | D50 ≤ 6 µm |
| Organic Green ↗ | Off-white powder | Green | 520 ± 5 nm | D50 ≤ 6 µm |
| Inorganic Red ↗ | Off-white powder | Red | 600 – 700 nm | D50 ≤ 10 µm |
| Inorganic Yellow ↗ | Off-white powder | Yellow | 550 – 600 nm | D50 ≤ 10 µm |
| Inorganic Blue ↗ | Off-white powder | Blue | 400 – 500 nm | D50 ≤ 10 µm |
| Inorganic Green ↗ | Off-white powder | Green | 500 – 570 nm | D50 ≤ 10 µm |
Technical data shown on this page are typical values for reference and do not constitute a product specification. Performance varies by grade, formulation, substrate and processing conditions. Customers should test the selected pigment in the intended application before commercial use.
Applications of UV Fluorescent Pigments
- Security inks: offset, flexographic, gravure and screen-printing systems
- Covert printing: labels, certificates, tax stamps and document verification
- Brand authentication: packaging and invisible product markings
- Security coatings: UV-responsive identification and inspection markings
- Plastics: compatible masterbatch and molded-part authentication
- Industrial inspection: process control and invisible marking
Final suitability depends on the formulation, substrate, processing conditions and regulatory requirements of the finished product. Application testing is required.
Quality & Certifications
In security printing and brand protection, spectral deviation is a defect. Nichwell ensures strict batch uniformity:
- Strict Quality Control: Each batch is evaluated against defined specifications for emission wavelength, fluorescence intensity and particle-size distribution.
- Global Certifications:Manufactured under an ISO 9001 Quality Management & Technical Documentation. Selected third-party test reports are available upon request.
- Technical Support: TDS, SDS and available color or UV excitation test data can be provided for selected grades upon request.
Tell us your UV wavelength, binder, processing temperature and target emission color. Our team will recommend a suitable grade for testing.
Request Security Printing Evaluation Samples (365nm / 254nm)
Validating covert security features or covert optical markers?
Nichwell supplies 5g–20g lab testing samples with corresponding TDS and COA dispatched.
Please tell us your parameters:
Target Wavelength: 365 nm UVA / 254 nm UVC Desired Emission Color: (e.g., Green 525nm, Red 615nm)
Carrier Medium: (e.g., Offset / Gravure Ink, PP/PC Resin)
• Maximum Heat Exposure: (°C)
Why Choose Our UV Fluorescent Pigments?
- 365 nm and selected 254 nm excitation grades
- Organic and inorganic options for different application requirements
- Controlled emission color, brightness and particle-size specifications
- Technical support for inks, coatings, plastics and printing systems
- Test samples, TDS and SDS available on request
- Selected custom colors and formulations subject to technical evaluation
- Manufactured under an ISO 9001-certified quality management system
- Over 10 years of specialty-pigment manufacturing experience
- Products supplied to more than 300 customers worldwide
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do you control the quality and stability of UV fluorescent pigments?
A: Each production batch is evaluated against defined specifications for daylight appearance, fluorescence intensity, emission wavelength and particle-size distribution.
Q: We need an invisible UV pigment for security printing. Are they completely colorless in daylight?
A: Not all grades are completely colorless. Selected products appear off-white, pale yellow or pale pink in powder form. Their visibility in a printed film depends on dosage, binder transparency, film thickness and substrate color. We recommend testing the pigment in your actual formulation.
Q: We want to mix the UV powder into plastics extrusion (or high-temp powder coatings). Can your pigment withstand high temperatures?
A: Thermal stability varies by color, chemistry, grade, exposure time and processing conditions. Selected inorganic grades are designed for higher processing temperatures, while the stated 600°C performance applies only to a specific inorganic red grade under defined conditions. Please share your process profile before testing.
Q: Can you customize an emission color or spectral characteristic for security printing?
A: Custom colors, blends and emission characteristics may be available, subject to technical feasibility and minimum order requirements. Please share your excitation wavelength, target emission color and ink system for evaluation.
Q: How do we achieve true zero daylight visibility (invisibility) on white security paper?
A: Complete daylight invisibility depends on particle size and film thickness. We recommend selecting our ultra-fine Organic 365 nm series (D50 1–5 µm) at a 3%–8% dosage in a clear, non-yellowing acrylic or polyurethane binder. Due to its sub-micron dispersion and pale daylight tone, printed micro-text or guilloche patterns remain completely invisible under normal sunlight while emitting high-contrast fluorescence under 365 nm verification.
Related Products
Nichwell also supplies other functional pigments and dyes, including 980nm Upconverting Phosphors (Anti-Stokes Pigments), Thermochromic Pigments, Perylene Pigments and NIR Absorbing Dyes.