R&F Encaustic Paint Block - King's Blue, 40 ml

Very warm, soft, light blue. With cool colours, it can be almost neutral. It has warm colours and hints of lavender, like a blue that’s hiding a rose.

• Pigment Composition: PW6-Titanium White; PB28-Cobalt Blue; PW7-Zinc Sulphide White
• Paint Lines: Encaustic, Pigment Stick
• Opacity: Opaque
• Pigment Stick Drying Rate: Medium
• Classification: Synthetic Inorganic
• Chemical Composition: Cobalt blue + Zinc-titanium White
• Safety Information: Conforms to ASTM D-4236
• Safety Warnings: This product contains cadmium, a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer.

Pigment Name: PW6-Titanium White

Classification: Synthetic Inorganic

Chemical Composition: Titanium dioxide

Properties

Titanium White is the most brilliant of the white pigments. It is considered an all-purpose oil colour that is useful in all techniques and the best all around white. Its masstone is neither warm nor cool, placing it between Lead White and Zinc White. It is less prone to cracking and yellowing than Lead White, but it still yellows easily. Titanium White dries slowly in oil form, more slowly than Lead White but more quickly than Zinc White. It is opaque in oil and acrylic forms and semi-opaque in watercolour form. This pigment has good chemical stability, and its tinting strength is superior to both Lead White and Zinc White.

Permanence

Titanium White has excellent permanence and lightfastness.

Toxicity

Titanium dioxide is highly stable and is regarded as completely non-toxic. Animal studies do not indicate that it is absorbed biologically, even after long periods of exposure. The primary safety concern is the inhalation of fine pigment dust particles.

History

Titanium is the ninth most abundant element in the Earth's crust. However, mineral deposits that are economical to mine are rare. Titanium dioxide was first discovered in 1821, although it could not be mass produced until 1919. Widespread use of the pigment began in the 1940s. Since that time, it has become the most commonly used white pigment. The name comes from the Latin word Titan, the name for the elder brother of Kronos and ancestor of the Titans, and from the Greek word tito, meaning day or sun.

Pigment Name: PB28-Cobalt Blue

Classification: Synthetic Inorganic

Chemical Composition: Cobalt (II) oxide + aluminum oxide

Properties

Cobalt blue is a semitransparent pigment with low to moderate tinting strength. When it dries, it appears lighter and less saturated. Pigment particles are large and grainy. Differences in how the pigment is ground and mixed lead to considerable differences in its performance among various manufacturers.

Permanence

Cobalt blue is absolutely lightfast and extraordinarily stable. The stability of cobalt salts at high temperatures makes them the standard for blues used in ceramics and glassware.

Toxicity

Cobalt salts are toxic. Avoid respiratory and skin contact. Soluble cobalt may cause irritation and allergic reactions through contact with the skin. It is considered a possible carcinogen.

History

Since ancient times, smalt blue has been used to colour glass and ceramics. Cobalt salts, which give smalt its characteristic blue colour, were identified in the 18th century. Techniques for manufacturing Cobalt Blue, a chemically pure salt of cobalt and aluminum oxide, were developed in 1802.

Pigment Name: PW7-Zinc Sulphide White

Classification: Synthetic Inorganic

Chemical Composition: Zinc sulfide

Properties

Zinc Sulphide White is a semi-transparent yellowish-white pigment. Zinc sulphide and zinc oxide (PW4) are often combined to create a more natural white colour. Transparency increases as particle size decreases. When slight impurities are added, zinc sulphide has phosphorescent and electroluminescent properties. It is often used to manufacture fluorescent or glow-in-the-dark paints.

Permanence

Zinc Sulphide White has excellent permanence and lightfastness.

Toxicity

Zinc Sulphide is non-toxic, but ore deposits often contain lead. Traces of lead and other impurities may be present in pigment powders. Ingestion is not recommended.

History

Zinc sulphide, when combined with slight impurities, has phosphorescent properties. It is often used for invisible ink that glows with exposure to ultraviolet light. Zinc sulphide is used in the manufacture of fluorescent paints.