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Series editors' preface - Wood Tools

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Table 5.3 Pigments<br />

Other materials and structures 223<br />

Colour/group Chemical composition Origin/date Properties Refractive<br />

Pigment and description Index<br />

name<br />

Whites<br />

Chalk<br />

(whiting)<br />

Gypsum<br />

Lead white<br />

(flake white,<br />

Cremnitz<br />

white)<br />

Zinc white<br />

(Chinese<br />

white)<br />

Titanium<br />

oxide<br />

Red and<br />

orange<br />

Vermilion<br />

(cinnabar)<br />

Iron oxide<br />

reds –<br />

haematite,<br />

Indian red,<br />

light red,<br />

Mars red,<br />

Tuscan red,<br />

Venetian<br />

red<br />

Red lead<br />

(minium)<br />

One of many natural forms of<br />

calcium carbonate (CaCO 3). Fine,<br />

soft, microscopically homogeneous,<br />

white or whitish powder<br />

Hydrated calcium sulphate<br />

CaSO 4.2H 2O. Fine, granular,<br />

crystalline<br />

Basic lead carbonate<br />

(2PbCO 3.Pb(OH) 2), very fine white<br />

crystalline powder. The most<br />

important of the lead pigments<br />

ZnO very finely divided, pure cold<br />

white, rounded particles or acicular<br />

crystals<br />

TiO 2. Extremely dense powerful<br />

opaque white. Mostly sold as a<br />

composite in which it is<br />

precipitated on a base of barium<br />

sulphate or calcium sulphate<br />

(typically 30% TiO 2: 70% BaSO 4).<br />

Both pure form and barium base<br />

form are fine and microcrystalline<br />

Mercuric sulphide (HgS). Crystalline<br />

form is red, amorphous form is<br />

black. Red varies in colour due to<br />

differences in particle size. Artificial<br />

variety very finely divided and<br />

homogeneous. Translucent deep<br />

orange red particles, very deep red<br />

by transmitted light<br />

Iron oxide, anhydrous (Fe 2O 3) or<br />

hydrated (Fe 2O 3.nH 2O). Anhydrous<br />

oxide dark purple red or maroon,<br />

hydrated form warm red to dull<br />

yellow. Some varieties (e.g.<br />

haematite) transparent by<br />

transmitted light others opaque.<br />

Darker varieties show elongated<br />

splintery dark brown lustrous<br />

particles of haematite<br />

Red tetroxide of lead (Pb 3O 4). Very<br />

opaque orange red, finely divided,<br />

crystalline or amorphous pigment<br />

with good hiding power<br />

Natural deposits<br />

Natural deposits<br />

Artificially prepared<br />

from early times by the<br />

action of acetic acid on<br />

lead and subsequent<br />

reaction with carbon<br />

dioxide<br />

Artificially prepared<br />

(1782). In use as water<br />

colour pigment from<br />

about 1834 and in oil<br />

from about 1850<br />

Occurs in nature as<br />

Rutile but commercial<br />

pigment is prepared<br />

from titanated iron ore<br />

or Ilmenite (FeTiO 3). In<br />

use in paints from<br />

about 1920<br />

Found as natural<br />

mineral cinnabar.<br />

Synthetic vermilion also<br />

available from very<br />

early times. Widely used<br />

in painting of nearly all<br />

periods and countries in<br />

the West since classical<br />

times<br />

Used since prehistoric<br />

times with continuous<br />

use in all periods.<br />

Difficult to distinguish<br />

natural from artificial<br />

varieties<br />

Artificially made but<br />

known from antiquity<br />

and used as a pigment<br />

into the Middle Ages<br />

Low refractive index gives poor<br />

hiding power in oil but covers<br />

well in water paints. Dissolves in<br />

acids with evolution of CO 2. See<br />

also section 4.4.2 on grounds<br />

Pure lead white in oil tends to<br />

chalk on weathering but does not<br />

crack or check and therefore<br />

leaves a good surface for<br />

repainting. Indoors, it tends to<br />

yellow. Blackened by sulphides in<br />

pigment mixtures or in air (but<br />

negligible in oil). Less good in<br />

watercolour or tempera. Toxic<br />

Oil films dry poorly. Requires more<br />

oil than lead white to form a<br />

paste. Unaffected by strong<br />

sunlight. Soluble in dilute alkalis.<br />

Can react with sulphides to form<br />

(white) zinc sulphide. Acicular<br />

form has greater tinting strength<br />

and hiding power. Non-poisonous.<br />

Oil films brittle<br />

The whitest of the whites. Greatest<br />

hiding power of any white<br />

pigment. Very stable and nonreactive.<br />

Failure to react with<br />

drying oils leads to soft paint films<br />

that require additional ZnO or<br />

driers to compensate<br />

Excellent body and hiding power.<br />

Generally very stable and durable<br />

but may darken in direct sunlight<br />

especially in water colour or<br />

tempera and therefore largely<br />

replaced by cadmium red. Natural<br />

form indistinguishable from<br />

synthetic<br />

Very stable. Unaffected by light or<br />

alkalis<br />

Reacts with nitric and acetic acids<br />

to form brown lead dioxide, with<br />

HCl to form white lead chloride<br />

and with sulphur to form black<br />

lead sulphide. Darkens on<br />

exposure to light and air. Artists’<br />

1.51–1.64<br />

1.52–1.53<br />

2.09<br />

2.00<br />

2.76<br />

Rutile<br />

1.75–2.5<br />

Barium<br />

base<br />

2.81–3.14<br />

2.78–3.01<br />

Haematite<br />

2.42<br />

continued

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