Manganese blue
Composition and Properties of Manganese Blue
The pigment is barium manganate sulfate with the formula of BaMnO4·BaSO4. It is moderately lightfast.
Preparation
The pigment is prepared by heating sodium sulfate, potassium permanganate, and barium nitrate at about 750–800 °C.
Names
Cement blue, Bong’s blue, Kuhlmann’s bluePB 33, CI 77112As the name of a black mineral, oxide of manganese (used from ancient times in glassmaking for removing coloring matter), from French manganèse (16c.), from Italian manganese, alteration or corruption of Medieval Latin magnesia.From Online Etymology Dictionary
History of Use
It was first mentioned as early as in 1869 as a colored substance. The production and its use in cement coloring (mainly for swimming pools) and as an artists’ pigment started in 1935 and was continued until the 1990s. The pigment is not being produced anymore due to environmental concerns and its toxicity.
