Redox Reactions in Prussian Blue Containing Paint Layers as a Result of Light Exposure

Abstract

Prussian blue, a mixed valence pigment, typically KFeIII[Fe II(CN)6]·xH2O, was the most widely used blue artistic pigment from ca. 1720 to the 1970's but, unfortunately, its paint layers, especially when used in conjunction with a white pigment, tend to fade or turn green upon extended exposure to light. In order to identify the mechanism underlying these changes, paint layers have been prepared with differing amounts of these white pigments and subjected to accelerated light exposure fading. The resulting unfaded and faded paint layers as well as both the Berlin white pigment, Fe2 II[FeII(CN) 6], and the partially oxidized Berlin green pigment, {KFe III[FeII(CN)6]}x{Fe III[FeIII(CN)6]}1-x, have been characterized by Raman and iron-57 Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results indicate that, upon fading, the Prussian blue pigment painted with a linseed oil binder and (PbCO3)2Pb(OH)2 or ZnO, and to a lesser extent with TiO2, undergoes a reduction at the exposed paint surface and an oxidation in the bulk of the paint layer. This combined reduction and oxidation disrupts, at least in part, the FeIII-N-C-Fe II intervalent electron transfer pathways in Prussian blue thus leading to pigment fading through a reduction in the intervalent electron transfer absorbance at about 700 nm.

Department(s)

Chemistry

Keywords and Phrases

Combined Reduction; Electron Transfer; Electron Transfer Pathways; Green Pigments; Light Exposure; Mixed Valence; Ssbauer Spectroscopies; White Pigments; Drying Oils; Electron Transitions; Lead; Oxidation; Redox Reactions; Zinc Oxide; Paint

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0267-9477

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2013 Royal Society of Chemistry, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Apr 2013

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