Red Iron Oxide

Infuse your products with the warm, enduring hues of our premium Red Iron Oxide CI 77491 Powder. This versatile inorganic pigment is celebrated for delivering a profound, opaque red to reddish-brown coloration across a multitude of industries. Known by its Color Index CI 77491 and CAS number 1309-37-1, this pigment offers unparalleled depth and stability, making it an indispensable component for manufacturers seeking reliable performance and rich aesthetics.

Understanding Red Iron Oxide: A Foundation of Natural-Inspired Color Red Iron Oxide is an inorganic compound of iron and oxygen, primarily composed of ferric oxide (Fe2O3). It is a widespread natural mineral (hematite) and can also be synthetically produced for purity and consistency. Unlike dyes, it is insoluble in water and functions by dispersing evenly throughout the medium to impart color and opacity. It is valued for its:

• Exceptional Opacity: Provides excellent hiding power, making it highly effective for solid, deep red coverage.
• Superior Lightfastness: Highly resistant to fading when exposed to UV light, ensuring long-lasting color integrity.
• Chemical and Weather Resistance: Maintains its color and structural integrity under harsh environmental conditions and chemical exposure.
• Thermal Stability: Withstands high temperatures, making it suitable for applications requiring heat processing.

FDA-Approved for Cosmetics & External Drugs Our Red Iron Oxide CI 77491 is FDA-approved for cosmetic use (listed under 21 CFR § 73.2299) in the United States, including products applied around the eye, in lipsticks, foundations, and other makeup. It is also approved for external drug applications (21 CFR § 73.1299). These approvals certify its safety and suitability for direct human contact in beauty and topical pharmaceutical products, confirming it is exempt from certification. While specific synthetic iron oxides have limited approval for pet food (21 CFR § 73.299), general direct human food additive approval for this pigment is not as broad as for FD&C certified colors. This makes it a trusted choice for formulators seeking compliant and high-performance pigments for beauty products, pharmaceuticals, and broader industrial uses.

Versatile Applications Across Industries:

• Cosmetics & Personal Care: A leading choice for lipsticks, blushes, foundations, powders, eyeshadows, and soaps, providing intense, natural-looking red hues and opacity.
• Paints & Coatings: Used extensively in architectural paints, industrial coatings, automotive finishes, and protective coatings for its deep color, durability, and UV resistance.
• Plastics: Incorporated into various plastic products, including packaging, automotive parts, and consumer goods, to achieve stable red coloration.
• Construction Materials: Employed to color concrete, mortar, paving stones, bricks, and roofing tiles, offering durable and attractive red shades that resist fading.
• Inks & Toners: Provides strong red pigmentation for printing inks, art supplies, and specialized toners.
• Artistic & Craft Applications: Ideal for pigments in art paints, ceramics, and various craft projects.

Quality and Safety Assurance: Our Red Iron Oxide CI 77491 Powder is manufactured under strict quality control to ensure high purity and consistent performance. For cosmetic and drug applications, it meets the rigorous standards set by regulatory bodies. While inorganic pigments are generally very stable, proper handling is always recommended to ensure safety and product integrity. Store in a cool, dry place to prevent clumping and maintain its powder form. As an insoluble pigment, it should be thoroughly dispersed, not dissolved, into your desired medium for optimal color development.

Choose our Red Iron Oxide CI 77491 Powder for its unwavering reliability, superior performance, and the rich, stable red color it brings to your finest products.

Categories: Cosmetic Colors -> Inorganic Pigments. FDA Certified Colors. Home & Personal Care -> Industrial/Technical, Soaps & Detergent

Tags: Red Iron Oxide, CI 77491, Iron Oxide Red, Inorganic Pigment, Red Powder, Cosmetic Grade, FDA Approved, Pigment, Opacity, Lightfast, Weather Resistant, Paints, Coatings, Plastics, Cosmetics, Lipstick, Blush, Foundation, Soap Color, Industrial Pigment, Non-Water Soluble, Hematite

Attributes/Specs:

• Product Name: Red Iron Oxide
• Other Names: CI 77491, Iron Oxide Red, Anhydrous Ferric Oxide, Hematite
• CAS Number: 1309-37-1
• EINECS Number: 215-168-2
• Chemical Formula: Fe2O3
• Form: Fine Powder
• Color: Deep Red / Reddish-Brown
• Solubility: Insoluble in water and most organic solvents
• Purity: Complies with FDA specifications for cosmetic and external drug use; typically > 95% for industrial grades.
• Lightfastness: Excellent
• Weather Resistance: Excellent
• Chemical Stability: Excellent
• Heat Stability: Very good (up to high temperatures)
• Particle Size: Optimized for dispersibility (e.g., typically sub-micron range for cosmetics, varies for industrial uses)
• Intended Use: Cosmetics, External Drugs, Paints, Coatings, Plastics, Construction, Inks, Soaps, Arts & Crafts.
• Regulatory Status (US): FDA approved for cosmetics (21 CFR § 73.2299) and externally applied drugs (21 CFR § 73.1299). Exempt from certification. Limited specific use in food (e.g., pet food 21 CFR § 73.299).
• Packaging: Sealed, appropriate for chemical/pigment storage, often food-grade for cosmetic/drug grades.
• Shelf Life: Indefinite when stored properly in a cool, dry, dark environment.
• Storage: Store in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and incompatible materials.

FAQs:

Q: Is Red Iron Oxide CI 77491 safe for use in cosmetics and external drugs? A: Yes, cosmetic-grade Red Iron Oxide (CI 77491) is FDA-approved for use in all cosmetics, including around the eye, and for external drug applications in the United States. It is listed as a safe color additive in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR § 73.2299 and § 73.1299) and is widely used in makeup like lipsticks, foundations, and blushes.

Q: What are the key properties of Red Iron Oxide as an inorganic pigment? A: Red Iron Oxide is known for its deep, earthy red color, exceptional opacity (hiding power), superior lightfastness (resistance to fading), and excellent weather, chemical, and thermal stability. These properties ensure the color remains vibrant and consistent over time, even in harsh conditions.

Q: Is Red Iron Oxide water-soluble? A: No, Red Iron Oxide (CI 77491) is an inorganic pigment and is insoluble in water. It functions by dispersing evenly throughout the product medium (like a cosmetic formulation, paint, or plastic) to impart its color and opacity, rather than dissolving like a dye.

Q: What are the primary industrial applications for Red Iron Oxide CI 77491? A: Beyond cosmetics and external drugs, Red Iron Oxide CI 77491 is extensively used in the paints and coatings industry for its deep color and durability, in plastics for consistent red coloration, and in construction materials like concrete and mortar for aesthetic and weather-resistant purposes. It’s also found in inks and various art applications.

Q: How does Red Iron Oxide contribute to product quality and why is its stability important? A: Red Iron Oxide enhances product quality by providing consistent, rich red coloration that is highly opaque and non-migrating. Its exceptional stability against light, heat, chemicals, and weathering ensures that products retain their intended color and appearance for an extended period, leading to greater customer satisfaction and product longevity.

Sources consulted for research:

1. PubChem (NIH NLM): pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Iron_oxide_red (for chemical properties, CAS, CI, molecular formula, general properties)
2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): www.fda.gov/industry/color-additives/color-additives-fact-sheet and specific CFR links:
   • 21 CFR § 73.2299 (Cosmetics): www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=73.2299
   • 21 CFR § 73.1299 (Drugs, external use): www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=73.1299
   • 21 CFR § 73.299 (Pet Food – Synthetic Iron Oxide): www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=73.299 (clarification on food use)
3. European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.030.013 (general chemical information and regulatory context in EU)