D184 Metallic Green/Vert Métallique - PG7 Phthalo Green (Organic, Polychlorinated copper(II) phthalocyanine), Mica PW20 (inorganic, aluminum silicate)

Series: A

Lightfast: ***

Pigment 1: PG7 Phthalo Green

This bright blue-green was developed in 1935 and has been in use since 1938.

Pigment name: PG7 Phthalo Green

Pigment Type: Organic

Chemical Name: Polychlorinated copper (II) phthalocyanine

Properties: Phthalo Green is a transparent, cool, bright, high-intensity colour used in oil and acrylics. It comes from a Phthalocyanine Blue pigment where most of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced with chlorine, forming highly stable molecules. It has similar pigment properties and permanence to Phthalo Blue. It is slow drying and excellent base colour for mixing a range of bright greens. Phthalo Green is considered a perfect alternative to Viridian because it is intense and mixes well, and can emphasize mineral colours in various tints. However, its tinting strength is very high so that it can overpower other colours. This pigment most closely resembles the discontinued and toxic Verdigris.

Permanence: Phthalo Greens are completely lightfast and resistant to alkali, acids, solvents, heat, and ultraviolet radiation. They are currently used in inks, coatings, and many plastics due to their stability and are considered a standard pigment in printing ink and the packaging industry.

Toxicity: Phthalo Green has no significant hazards, but it contained PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) until 1982.

Alternate Names: Bocour Green, Cyan Green, Intense Green, Monastral Green, Phthalocyanine Green, Rembrandt Green, Thalo Green, Winsor Green.

Pigment 2: Mica PW20

Mica has been used as a pigment since prehistoric times.

Pigment name: PW20 Mica

Pigment Type: Inorganic

Chemical Name: Aluminum silicate

Properties: An off-white pigment with complex reflective effects, mica is often used with transparent pigments to create mixed pigments with interference and pearlescent effects.

Permanence: Mica is permanent and lightfast.

Toxicity: Although it is entirely non-toxic and not bio-reactive, fine particles may be irritating: This is of concern primarily for those exposed occupationally to dry mica powder. Breathing mica particles may cause lung fibrosis and pneumoconiosis.

Alternate Names: n/a