What is Pigment

Pigments are generally coloured, organic or inorganic solid powder, and usually are insoluble. They are not affected physically or chemically in the substrate in which they are incorporated. Pigments can give a full range of colours. Pigments have a variety of applications that includes plastics, ink, and coating applications.

Difference Between Pigments and Dyes:

Points of Difference Solubility Number Product resistance Available in Large number Lower as pigments compared to

Dyes They are soluble

Pigments Pigments are colourants that are insoluble in water and most of the solvents Comparatively number Very high have more lesser in

Lightfastness

Lower Dyes are very much Traditionally pigments vulnerable. Lights destroy been found to be colored objects by breaking lightfast than dyes open electronic bonding within the molecule Dye molecules are comparatively smaller it's like comparing a football (pigment) to say a head of a pin (dye) Taking the example of dyeing a wood surface, the dye and the substrate (wood) that is dyed are chemicals, that have certain features called functional groups. At the level of molecules these groups serve as open pockets of electrostatic charges (+ or -). The functional group in dyes,

Size

Pigment particles are about 12 microns in size. (1 micron =1/1000 meter). It means that the particles can be seen under a magnifying glass For example taking the example of a wood surface Pigment requires the help of a binder for gluing. As it is an inert substance which is merely suspended in a carrier/binder

Bonding

serve as a method for attaching the dye to the wood Structure During application process during the there is a temporary alteration application in the structure of the dyes process Imparting Colours of During application, pigments have the capacity to retain particulate or crystalline structure

Dyes can only impart colour by Pigments impart colours by selective absorption of the either scattering of light or by dyes selective absorption Taking the example of a Candle making process, if the candles are dyed it is easily combustible and can be applied throughout the candle In the example of a candle making as pigments are colored particles, they tend to clog a wick when burned. This makes them undesirable for a candle if it is colored throughout and used for burning

Combustible properties

Chemical Composition Longevity factor Printing substrates

Usually the dyes are organic While pigments are normally (i.e. carbon-based) inorganic compounds, often compounds involving heavy toxic metals The dye based printing inks do In case of ink based printing not last as long as the pigment prints made with pigments inks lasts longer Compatible with almost all the Owing to the physical makeup on substrates that needs to be of the pigment inks the range dyed for suitable substrates are limited Taking the case of printing inks, dye based inks offers a wide variety

Colour gamut

Prussian blue:
Dark blue, called the first of the modern pigments. It has very high tinting strength but is only fairly permanent to light and air. It's an Iron-hexacyanoferrate accidentally formed while experimenting with the oxidation of iron.

It is an inorganic compound with the idealized formula Fe7(CN)18, containing also variable amounts of water and other ions.

This dark blue solid is commonly abbreviated "PB." PB is a common pigment, the object of instructional experiments, and an antidote for certain kinds of heavy metal poisoning. Because it is easily synthesized in impure form, it also has a complicated chemistry that has led to extensive speculation on its structure. It is used in paints and is the "blue" in blueprints.

Chemical Formula:

Uses In Medical sciences: How Prussian blue works

Prussian blue traps radioactive cesium and thallium (mainly Tl-201) in the intestines and keeps them from being reabsorbed by the body. The radioactive materials then move through the intestines and are excreted (passed) in bowel movements. Prussian blue reduces the biological half-life of cesium from about 110 days to about 30 days. Prussian blue reduces the biological half-life of thallium from about 8 days to about 3 days.

Side effects of Prussian blue

The most common side effects of Prussian blue are upset stomach and constipation. These side effects can easily be treated with other medications. People may have blue feces (stool) during the time that they are taking Prussian blue.

Internal exposure to cesium or thallium

Doctors may also prescribe Prussian blue for use in treating people who have been internally exposed to cesium or thallium. Internal exposure can happen through ingestion or inhalation, and it can be quite dangerous when not quickly treated.

The Prussian blue binds to these elements, preventing the body from absorbing them and expressing them quickly through the intestines to minimize exposure. Prussian blue should not be taken orally without the direction of a doctor, as it is very important to calculate an accurate dosage and to take a version which has been specifically designed for this use.

As a pigment:
Pure Prussian blue is a very deep, rich blue. It can be mixed with other pigments to create different shades, or used on its own. Painters, woodcutters, and textile artists all work with Prussian blue, and it was also historically used to manufacture blueprints.

In laundry bluing:
In laundry bluing, Prussian blue was historically added in trace amounts to laundry water to make yellowed whites look more crisp. In microscopy, Prussian blue is often used as a stain to look for traces of iron,

By machinists and toolmakers:

Prussian blue in oil paint is the traditional material used for spotting metal surfaces such as surface plates and bearings for hand scraping. A thin layer of non-drying paste is applied to a reference surface and transfers to the high spots of the workpiece. The toolmaker then scrapes, stones, or otherwise removes the high spots. Prussian blue is preferable because it will not abrade the extremely precise reference surfaces as many ground pigments may.

References:
http://www.dyespigments.com/what-pigment.html http://www.dyespigments.com/what-is-dye.html http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen01/gen01703.htm http://www.dyespigments.com/difference-pigments-dyes.html http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Prussian_blue http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prussian_blue http://www.colourindia.in/prussian-blue-pigment.htm http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi2254.htm http://www.essence-of-mineral-makeup.com/prussian-blue.html http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-prussian-blue.htm http:// http://images.search.yahoo.com http://painting.about.com/cs/colourtheory/a/prussianblue.htm http://encausticpaints.com/Resources/QuestionAnswer/PigmentWarningsPrus sianBlueIsItSafe/tabid/566/Default.aspx Class Notes