Anthraquinone pigments are members of the pigment family originating from vat dyes, which are structurally or synthetically derived from the anthraquinone molecule. The basic anthraquinone molecule is normally too small to give good pigmentary properties, and therefore, molecular enlargement is done via different reactions to yield commercial grade products with good pigmentary properties. They are divided into four groups — anthrapyrimidine pigments, flavanthrone pigments, pyranthrone pigments and anthanthrone pigments. They offer a wide range of colors including red, orange, yellow, blue and violet. Even though these pigments are expensive due to their multistage synthesis, they are used in industrial
coatings, automotive finishes and specialty coatings due to their excellent light and weather fastness, chemical resistance, solvent fastness and migration resistance. Some examples of this group of pigments are Pigment Red 168, 177 and 216, Pigment Orange 51, Pigment Yellow 24 and 108, Pigment Blue 60 and Pigment Violet 31. Figure 3.17 shows the structure of Pigment Red 177.