Pigments through the Ages - Technical Information

About the chemical structure:

Chemical name:	Zinc(II)-oxide
Formula:	ZnO
3D model:	red = oxygen, green = zinc
Crystal system:	Trigonal - Trapezohedral (at Mineralogy Database)
Refractive index:	w = 2.905, e = 3.256; uniaxial

Color:

Color Index (C.I.)

PW 4

How can you identify Zinc white?

Imaging:

UVF: bright yellow

IRFC: white

OM: Since zinc oxide is derived from smoke fumes, its particles are very fine and are difficult to observe except at very high magnification.

Microscopic appearance at x500 mag

Analytics:

It readily dissolves in alkaline solutions, acids and ammonia without foaming.

Raman spectra: University College London;

FTIR spectra: IRUG

Usage and handling:

Permanence:	Toxicity:
Lightfast: very good. Degradation processes: vermilion is, largely, a permanent pigment, its body and hiding power are stronger than those of cadmium red. However in the presence of hydrogen sulphides and sun light the pigment reacts chemically darkening to a black. Although it is a sulphide, it is so inert that it does not darken lead white when they are mixed and as a result they have often been mixed for flesh tints.	non toxic. Zinc white is not considered to be hazardous, but care should be used in handling the dry powder pigment to avoid inhaling the dust. MSDS: Kremer

Permanence:

Toxicity:

Lightfast: very good.

Degradation processes: vermilion is, largely, a permanent pigment, its body and hiding power are stronger than those of cadmium red. However in the presence of hydrogen sulphides and sun light the pigment reacts chemically darkening to a black. Although it is a sulphide, it is so inert that it does not darken lead white when they are mixed and as a result they have often been mixed for flesh tints.

non toxic. Zinc white is not considered to be hazardous, but care should be used in handling the dry powder pigment to avoid inhaling the dust.

MSDS: Kremer