Accidental discovery produces durable new blue pigment for multiple applications

[Are_grits_groceries]

Variations of a new blue pigment were developed by chemists at Oregon State University, based on manganese.

An accidental discovery in a laboratory at Oregon State University has apparently solved a quest that over thousands of years has absorbed the energies of ancient Egyptians, the Han dynasty in China, Mayan cultures and more - the creation of a near-perfect blue pigment.

Through much of recorded human history, people around the world have sought inorganic compounds that could be used to paint things blue, often with limited success. Most had environmental or durability issues. Cobalt blue, developed in France in the early 1800s, can be carcinogenic. Prussian blue can release cyanide. Other blue pigments are not stable when exposed to heat or acidic conditions.

But chemists at OSU have discovered new compounds based on manganese that should address all of those concerns. They are safer to produce, much more durable, and should lead to more environmentally benign blue pigments than any being used now or in the past. They can survive at extraordinarily high temperatures and don't fade after a week in an acid bath.

http://www.physorg.com/news177606699.html

Who knew? I had no idea that there was such a hunt for a different blue. I never realized there were such problems with existing shades of blue.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. I wish they'd leave manganese alone.

If they start fucking up manganese now I'm outta here.

Enron.

[Soylent Brice]

2. hmm.

okay.

lol

[Gman2]

3. I hope they dont find a durable red. It is the worst.

IT fades. It takes three times the pigment to get the same depth of color. In fact, lets just ban red.

[mudplanet]

4. Whole economies were based, in part, on the production of

indigo until the early 1900s.

[bluedigger]

5. That's really cool!

Thanks for posting it!