D186 Metallic Violet/Violet Métallique - PV23 Dioxazine Violet (Organic, Carbazole dioxazine), Mica PW20 (inorganic, aluminum silicate)

Series: A

Lightfast: ***

Pigment 1: PV23 Dioxazine Violet

Two molecular variants of Dioxazine Violet, PV23 and PV37, are available. They have similar properties, but mix slightly differently.

Pigment name: PV23 Dioxazine Violet

Pigment Type: Organic

Chemical Name: Carbazole dioxazine

Properties: Dioxazine Violet is transparent and has very high tinting strength. It is a staining pigment, very dark valued when it is used at full strength. Concentrated, it paints out nearly black, but it mixes with Titanium White to form bright, opaque tints of purple. PV23 produces slightly redder shades than PV37. Because the hue can vary with the conditions of preparation and grinding, it may be offered in red shade, blue shade, and so forth.

Permanence: Dioxazine Violet has good lightfastness. There may be some concern about it fading or shifting in colour in tints and washes. Some artists have reported that PV37, a molecular variant, is more lightfast than PV23. 

Toxicity: n/a

Alternate Names: Dioxazine Purple, Chromothal Violet, Mauve, Carbazole Violet.

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 completely 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