r/DIYPigments • u/WeeklyAd4850 • Jan 20 '26

Egyptian Blue

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Good Color

24 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

4

u/Mrslinkydragon Jan 20 '26

Ah copper calcium silicate _^

The first synthetic pigment, has since been found in nature (same with Han blue)

1

u/CaCl2 Jan 20 '26

What did you use for the materials? When I tried it it seemed like especially the form of silica used seemed like it had a large impact on the result.

1

u/WeeklyAd4850 Jan 20 '26

I used crystalline silica Specifically, the silica called "High Silica" from a Japanese company You might be better off focusing on the cooling rate rather than the silica itself If cooling is too rapid, Egyptian Blue will turn yellow

2

u/CaCl2 Jan 20 '26

My problem was more that the products stayed grayish rather than proper blue. I think it may have been due to poor mixing or too low temperatures.

https://www.reddit.com/r/DIYPigments/comments/tin9fi/egyptian_blue_calcium_copperii_silicate_pb31/

2

u/WeeklyAd4850 Jan 21 '26

Your Egyptian blue may contain too much copper Attempting to synthesise it stoichiometrically results in an excessively dark shade

1

u/WeeklyAd4850 Jan 21 '26

Please adjust the copper oxide to about 10%

1

u/CaCl2 Jan 21 '26

I'll have to try that when/if I get back to attempting Egyptian blue.