CHEMISTRY OF PIGMENTS

Pigments

Pigments appear the colors they are because they selectively reflect and absorb certain wavelengths of visible light. The appearance of pigments is intimately connected to the color of the source light. Pigments are water-and oil-insoluble natural and synthetic products that impart color to materials.

pigments

History of Pigments

Pigments and paint grinding equipment believed to be between 350,000 and 400,000 years

• In 1200 BCE Phonecians produced Tyrian Purple
• In 1453 CE Greeks and Romans also used pigments
• In 1453 CE Greeks and Romans also used pigments
• In 16the centaury Spain people used pigments
• In 17th centaury Dutch master Johannes Vermeer used pigments for paintings
• In 18th century Chrome Yellow, Cobalt Blue were came to usage
• In 19th centaury Cadmium Red came into existence
• In 20th centaury Hoechst company introduced the Hansa yellow pigment

Natural Plant pigments

Classification of Pigments

Biological pigments – used in biological process like Camouflage, Mimicry, Aposematism and Sexual selection.

Examples: chlorophyll; canthaxanthin; anthocyanin; rhodopsin; myoglobin

Organic pigments – Pigment Red 170; Indian Yellow; indigo; Alizarin; Alizarin Crimson

Inorganic pigments – carbon black; Cadmium Yellow; Cadmium Orange; Cadmium Red; Prussian Blue; Venetian red; Chrome Yellow; Naples Yellow; titanium white