CHRIS25
National Hazard
Posts: 951
Registered: 6-4-2012
Location: Ireland
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Mood: No Mood
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Seawater - reducing bleaching effect
Hi, strange as it may sound I experimented by placing cyanotype strips in seawater. I knew they would bleach slightly, actually I thought they would
be destroyed; but too my delight I got consisitent reduction of the prussian blue to varying degrees resembling black and white photography, (the
latter is quite complex to produce from a cyanotype requiring special chemical treatments). So as a result I would very much like to reduce the
effects of the sodium and chlorides that are in seawater responsible for the bleaching. I know that seawater main salts are Cl 55% - Na 30% - SO4 8%
then Mg and Ca following behind, (estimates I know). Sodium chlorine magnesium sulphur potassium and calcium make up the largest constituents, and
my idea is to see if I can perhaps lessen the effects of the sodium and chlorine so as to allow the next few to dominate a bit. Is this a ridiculous
tall order? It's all crazy experimentation, but the black and white is quite incredible. I have bleached cyanotypes with sodium carbonate and ammonia
many times, this has always reduced the image before its toning bath but never the same as the seawater treatment. Anyway, just ideas I am having,
suggestions are of course welcome. (Just in case some need to know Prussian blue is the potassium ferricyanide and ammonium iron3 citrate mixed).
‘Calcination… is such a Separation of Bodies by Fire, as makes ‘em easily reducible into Powder; and for that reason ‘tis call’d by some
Chymical Pulverization.’ (John Friend, Chymical Lectures London, 1712)
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. (William Penn 1644-1718)
The very nature of Random, Chance development precludes the existence of Order - strange that our organic and inorganic world is so well defined by
precision and law. (me)
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ScienceSquirrel
International Hazard
Posts: 1863
Registered: 18-6-2008
Location: Brittany
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Mood: Dogs are pets but cats are little furry humans with four feet and self determination! 
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Why not just buy magnesium sulphate ( Epsom Salts ) etc and use that.
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CHRIS25
National Hazard
Posts: 951
Registered: 6-4-2012
Location: Ireland
Member Is Offline
Mood: No Mood
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Well, funny you said that I have loads of magnesium sulphate and I am definitely going to try that today, but in the meantime I wanted to post the
question because seawater is a concoption of many ingredients, and I was thinking maybe someone might have an interesting insight or an idea that I
would not think of, being that I am not a chemist with all that background. But thankyou mr.squirrel, for the suggestion.
‘Calcination… is such a Separation of Bodies by Fire, as makes ‘em easily reducible into Powder; and for that reason ‘tis call’d by some
Chymical Pulverization.’ (John Friend, Chymical Lectures London, 1712)
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. (William Penn 1644-1718)
The very nature of Random, Chance development precludes the existence of Order - strange that our organic and inorganic world is so well defined by
precision and law. (me)
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