Prussian Blue Pigment
Discovered in 1704 or 1705, Prussian blue is generally regarded as the first of the modern colors. In truth it is something of an anomaly, appearing well before the blossoming of chemistry as a science in the late 18th century.
Prussian Blue, like so many other innovations in color, was the result of a serendipitous accident. Prussian Blue is a synthetic organic pigment of a deep blue hue with a greenish tint.
| Pigment Names | |||||||
| Common Names: | English: Prussian blue French: bleu prussien, bleu de Prusse German: Preussisch Blau Italian: azzurro di Prussia Japanese: konjō, berensu Russian: берлинская лазаурь Spanish: azul de Prussia | ||||||
| Synonyms: | English: Berlin blue, iron blue, Milori blue, Paris blue, Turnbull blue, Chinese Blue, steel blue, ferric ferrocyanide German: Berlinerblau, Pariserblau, Turnbullsblau, Vossenblau Italian: azzurro di Berlin Spanish: azul de Berlin | ||||||
| Nomenclature: |
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Origin and History
A Berlin-based color maker, Heinrich Diesbach, was working in the laboratory of the alchemist Johann Konrad Dippel, and in the course of preparing a red lake pigment, Diesbach asked Dippel for some potash (a potassium alkali).
Presumably, to economize, Diesbach requested a batch of potash contaminated with oils prepared from animal blood. It was a false economy, for his pigment turned out very pale. Attempting to concentrate it, he succeeded instead in turning it deep blue. He had no idea what had transpired but was astute enough to recognize the blue material as a potential pigment in its own right and was soon manufacturing it according to a jealously guarded recipe.
Iron blue was first mentioned in 1710 in a Latin text written by an unknown author, and its properties were described in a reference from 1726. It is said to have been discovered by the chemist and painter Diesbach in 1704, but other sources mention the chemist Johann Conrad Dippel, for whom Diesbach worked.
The first mention of its manufacture was by the English chemist John Woodward in 1726. Potash and ox blood were heated until they glowed and then subsequently boiled with rainwater. The "blood lye" obtained this way was heated with sulfate and alum. This produced a green intermediate product called "mountain green" or "chrysocolla green." The material was then washed and filtered. After a treatment with hydrochloric acid, the product eventually turned to a deep blue color. It was particularly valued for mixing light blues and appeared in skies by Watteau, Canaletto, and Gainsborough.
Source
Our Prussian Blue is made according to the process originated by the French colormaker, Milori & Company, Lyons, France, known as the Milori process.
Permanence and Compatibility
Prussian Blue is stable in weak acids but is decomposed by weak alkalis, so it is suitable for oil, encaustic (non-emulsified or saponified type), egg tempera, and watercolor, but not fresco and casein.
Oil Absorption and Grinding
Prussian Blue absorbs a moderately high amount of oil (40–50 grams of linseed oil per 100 grams of pigment) to make a paste.
Toxicity
Prussian Blue is not considered toxic; however, care should be taken in handling the dry powder pigment to avoid inhaling the dust.
For more information on handling pigments safely, please visit How to Safely Handle Art Materials and Pigments.
| Pigment Information | |
| Color: | Blue |
| Pigment Classification: | Synthetic inorganic |
| Colour Index: | Pigment Blue 27 (77510:1) |
| Chemical Name: | Ammonium iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(II) |
| Chemical Formula: | (NH4)Fe[Fe(CN)6]•xH2O |
| CAS No. | 25869-00-5 |
| EINECS No. | 247-304-1, 237-875-5 |
| Series No.: | 3 |
| ASTM Lightfastness | |
| Acrylic: | I |
| Oil: | I |
| Watercolor: | I |
| Physical Properties | |
| Particle Size (mean): | 0.4 micron |
| Density: | 1.80 g/cm3 |
| Bulking Value: | 14.2 lbs/gal |
| Refractive Index: | 1.56–1.662 |
| Oil Absorption: | 45 grams oil / 100 grams pigment |
| pH (10% Aqueous Slurry): | 3.0–5.0 |
| Heat Stability: | 130° C (266° F) for 30 minutes |
| Munsell Value: | 4.54PB 2.43/6.16 |
| Health and Safety | No acute or known chronic health hazards are associated with this product's anticipated use (most chemicals are thoroughly tested for chronic toxicity). Protect yourself against potentially unknown chronic hazards of this and other chemical products by keeping them out of your body. Do this by avoiding ingestion, excessive skin contact, inhaling spraying mists, and sanding dust and vapors from heating. Conforms to ASTM D-4236. |
For a detailed explanation of the terms in the table above, please visit Composition and Permanence.
| SKU | 417-17 |
|---|---|
| Brand | Rublev Colours |
| Vendor | Rublev Colours |
| Processing Time | Usually ships the next business day. |
| Color | Blue |
| Pigment Type | Inorganic, Synthetic |
Health & Safety: There are no acute or known chronic health hazards with the anticipated use of this product (most chemicals are not thoroughly tested for chronic toxicity). Protect yourself against potentially unknown chronic hazards of this and other chemical products by avoiding ingestion, excessive skin contact, and inhaling spraying mists, sanding dust, and concentrated vapors from heating. Contact us for further information or consult the SDS for more information. Conforms to ASTM D-4236.
Order Processing
If the Processing Time for items in your order is "Usually ships within 24-48 hours", your order will usually be processed within 48 hours of receipt Monday through Friday. Orders received during weekends and holidays will be processed on the next business (working) day. Orders with longer processing times will be shipped when all items become available.
Shipping Rates
Please add your desired items and the delivery address to your basket to determine the exact shipping costs and options. The table below provides shipping rates for different weights to the countries we ship to.
Carriers
We use the following carriers to deliver orders:
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Below is an approximate guide to shipping costs for locations in Europe. Rates may change without notice.
| COUNTRY | ALPHA-2 | RATES PER PARCELS | CARRIER | |
| 0–10 kg | >10 kg–30 kg | |||
| Austria | AT | 11,50 € | 11,50 € | DPD |
| Belgium | BE | 10,95 € | 10,95 € | DPD |
| Bulgaria | BG | 20,25 € | 30,25 € | FedEx |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | BA | 49,25 € | 49,25 € | DPD |
| Cyprus | CY | 21,80 € | 29,30 € | FedEx |
| Switzerland | CH | 25,85 € | 42,98 € | FedEx |
| Czech Republic | CZ | 12,00 € | 12,00 € | DPD |
| Germany | DE | 5,50 € | 5,50 € | DPD |
| Denmark | DK | 12,00 € | 12,00 € | DPD |
| Spain | ES | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
| Estonia | EE | 21,70 € | 21,70 € | DPD |
| Finland | FI | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
| France | FR | 14,60 € | 14,60 € | DPD |
| United Kingdom | GB | – € | – € | – |
| Greece | GR | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
| Croatia | HR | 29,25 € | 29,25 € | DPD |
| Hungary | HU | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
| Ireland | IE | 17,48 € | 28,50 € | FedEx |
| Iceland | IS | 30,70 € | 62,40 € | DHL |
| Italy | IT | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
| Liechtenstein | LI | 25,85 € | 43,00 € | FedEx |
| Lithuania | LT | 21,70 € | 21,70 € | DPD |
| Luxembourg | LU | 10,95 € | 10,95 € | DPD |
| Latvia | LV | 21,70 € | 21,70 € | DPD |
| Malta | MT | 21,80 € | 30,25 € | FedEx |
| Monaco | MC | 15,95 € | 24,30 € | FedEx |
| Netherlands | NL | 10,95 € | 10,95 € | DPD |
| Norway | NO | 25,85 € | 43,00 € | FedEx |
| Poland | PL | 14,90 € | 14,90 € | DPD |
| Portugal | PT | 15,50 € | 15,50 € | DPD |
| Romania | RO | 21,80 € | 30,25 € | FedEx |
| Serbia | RS | 49,25 € | 49,25 € | DPD |
| Slovakia | SK | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
| Slovenia | SI | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
| Sweden | SE | 15,90 € | 15,90 € | DPD |
| Turkey | TR | 27,30 € | 46,20 € | FedEx |
Note: Countries in RED type are not members of the European Union.
Postal Service
Shipping (EU and non-EU countries):
Up to 500 grams Tracked: 6,85 €
Up to 1000 grams Tracked: 10,45 €
Up to 2000 grams Tracked: 20,50 €
Tracking
For tracking details, please log in to your Natural Pigments account.
We track all orders where a tracked delivery service has been selected.
We will update your order with the tracking information if the shipping carrier provides a tracking number. You can locate the tracking number for your order in the shipping confirmation email you receive when your order is shipped. (Look for the email with the subject line "Natural Pigments: Shipment # xxxxxxxxx for Order # xxxxxxxxx.") You can also find the tracking number by signing into your account and visiting My Account Dashboard under Recent Orders.
VAT for Orders within the European Union
VAT is not included in prices unless specified on the website as VAT INCLUSIVE. VAT is calculated for Germany at 19% on both order subtotal and shipping cost and is added to the order grand total.
VAT, Duties, and Tariffs for Orders Outside of the European Union
VAT is not included in prices and totals unless specified on the website as VAT INCLUSIVE. Duties, tariffs, and customs broker fees are not included in the prices and totals on the website. These charges are in addition to what you will pay when ordering. These charges originate in the delivery country, so please contact your local customs for more information.
Shipping Rates
The rate charged for the shipping of your order is based on the weight of your products and your location. Before the final checkout page, you will be shown what the shipping cost will be, and you will have a chance to abandon your order if you decide not to place it.
Shipping Damage
For shipping damage, customers should file a claim with the carrier immediately. Any discrepancy, including wrong or missing items, should be reported to Natural Pigments within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt.
Back Orders
We do not accept backorders for out-of-stock items. If you order an out-of-stock item, we will email you when we expect that product to be available. You will be among the first to receive the item when it becomes available. Natural Pigments will not charge your credit card for out-of-stock items.
