Maya Blue Pigment

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SKU
417-16

Developed by the Maya who ruled Mesoamerica from about 290 to 900 C.E., is a remarkable pigment based on a blue dye precipitated onto clay.

Maya Blue The blue is perhaps the most striking color used by Maya artists, a color so extraordinary that it generated much research and debate among scientists for more than 50 years. What is particularly interesting about Maya Blue is that, despite long exposure to light and high humidity for centuries, it hardly fades. Its unprecedented stability, defies exposure to alkalies, acids and chemical solvents. Maya Blue is a mixture of both inorganic (paylgorskite clay) and organic (blue dye) elements—no known organic pigments today can come close to the stability of Maya Blue over so many years.

Pigment Names
Common Names (rock):English: Maya blue
French: bleu de Maya
German: Maya Blau
Italian: azzurro di Maya
Spanish: azul Maya
Nomenclature:
Common NamePrimary MineralSource
Maya BlueNoneUnited States

 

Pigment Information
Color:Blue
Pigment Classification:Synthetic Organic
Colour Index:Pigment Blue 82
Chemical Name:
Chemical Formula:
CAS No.:
Series No.:4
ASTM Lightfastness
Acrylic:Not Listed
Oil:Not Listed
Watercolor:Not Listed
Physical Properties
Particle Size (mean):2 microns
Density:2.00 g/cm3
Hardness:
Refractive Index:1.56–1.662
Oil Absorption:65 grams oil / 100 grams pigment
Health and SafetyThere are no acute or known chronic health hazards associated with the anticipated use of this product (most chemicals are not fully tested for chronic toxicity). Always 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, and inhalation of spraying mists, sanding dusts 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.

Origin and History

Maya Blue was developed by the Maya occupying Mesoamerica for the first millennium C.E. Today, a U.S. company has unlocked the secrets of Maya Blue and patented the process to create hybrid organic/inorganic pigments based on research to find the origin of the blue color.

Source

Our Maya Blue is made by Mayan Pigments, and is based on the process they developed that recreates the Maya blue pigment found in Mesoamerican artifacts and archaelogical sites. The process involves heat-treating synthetic indigo dye with palygorskite (formerly known as attaplugite) clay.

Permanence and Compatibility

Maya Blue is remarkably stable in acids, alkalis, and solvents, so it is suitable for almost all artists' mediums, including fresco and casein.

Oil Absorption and Grinding

Maya Blue absorbs a moderately high amount of oil (65 grams of linseed oil per 100 grams of pigment) to make a paste.

Toxicity

Maya Blue is not considered toxic, however, care should be used in handling the dry powder pigment to avoid inhaling the dust.

For more information on how to handle pigments safely, please visit How to Safely Handle Art Materials and Pigments.

More Information
SKU417-16
BrandRublev Colours
VendorRublev Colours
Processing TimeOrders ship on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
ColorBlue
Pigment TypeInorganic, Historical, Synthetic

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Maya Blue Pigment
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