YInMn Blue
YInMn Blue, also known as Oregon Blue or Mas Blue, is an inorganic blue pigment that was discovered by Mas Subramanian and his (then) graduate student, Andrew Smith, at Oregon State University in 2009. The pigment is noteworthy for its vibrant, near-perfect blue color and unusually high NIR reflectance.
Contents
Composition
A general formula for this compound is given as YIn1−xMnxO3. The color may be adjusted by varying the In/Mn ratio in the pigment's base formula of YIn1−xMnxO3, but the bluest pigment, YIn0.8Mn0.2O3, has a color comparable to standard cobalt blue CoAl2O4 pigments.
Properties
YInMn Blue is chemically stable, does not fade, and is non-toxic. It is more durable than alternative blue pigments such as ultramarine or Prussian blue, retaining its vibrant color in oil and water, and is safer than cobalt blue, which is a suspected carcinogen and may cause cobalt poisoning.
The pigment is resistant to acids such as nitric acid, and is difficult to combust. When YInMn Blue does ignite, it burns a violet color attributed to the indium atoms.
Availability
Currently the pigment is available in various forms.
Preparation
It can be prepared by heating the oxides of the elements yttrium, indium, and manganese to a temperature of approximately 1,200 °C (2,200 °F).[1]
Projects
- Blue pigment
- Compound collecting
Handling
Safety
Currently, there are no indications that this compound is toxic, and it's relatively inert.
Storage
No special storage is required, can be stored in any clean container.
Disposal
No special storage is required, though it's better to try and recycle it as much as possible since yttrium and indium are scarce.
