Lead White (100 g)

Product Details:

WARNING! Contains Lead. Read the MSDS for cautionary statements.
100 g jar (3.5 oz)

Rublev Colours Lead White is made by a modern process yielding a finely divided powder of high purity. Rublev Colours Stack Lead White is made according to the 16th century Dutch stack process. The difference between lead white made according to modern practice and that made by the Dutch stack process is the size and shape of the pigment particles. The Dutch stack process yields a pigment with larger particles with have more variance in size and shape. This difference affects the oil absorption ratio of the pigment, its opacity and consistency in paint. Both forms of basic carbonate of lead usually contain about 70% of lead carbonate and 30% lead hydrate.

Although lead carbonate occurs in nature as the mineral, cerussite, it has not been an important source of white pigment in painting history.

Pigment Names
Common Names:	English: lead white (white lead) French: blanc de plomb German: Bleiweiss Italian: bianco (biacca) di plombo Spanish: plomo blanca
Synonyms:	Basic white lead, Berlin white, bis[carbonato (2-)] dihydroxytrilead, Bleiweiss, cerrussa, cerusa, ceruse, cerussa, Cremnitz white, Crems white, dibasic lead carbonate, flake lead, flake white, Kremnitz white, Krems white, lead carbonate, lead carbonate hydroxide, lead subcarbonate, Nottingham white, pigment white, silver white, slate white, Vienna white, white lead

Origin and History
Lead white is the most important of all lead pigments. Not overlooking special uses of lime white in wall painting, it is safe to say that, historically, it is the most important of all white pigments. It was the only white pigment used in European easel painting until the 19th century. It has been produced since early historical times. Theophrastus, Pliny, and Vitruvius all described its preparation from metallic lead and vinegar. It is one of the oldest synthetically produced pigments.

Source
There are numerous methods for making lead white. Our lead white is made according to the "quick method" yielding a bright white, finely-divided powdered of high purity.

Permanence and Compatibility
Despite lead white being a carbonate, and hence sensitive to acids, it has an excellent record for permanence. It is unaffected by light. When applied in watercolor technique, however, traces of hydrogen sulfide in the air may cause it to turn black. Although lead white is theoretically incompatible with sulfide pigments, and should form black lead sulfide in contact with them, no examples are readily known. There might be some doubt, however, about mixing orpiment and realgar with lead white, although some identified cases show no discoloration.

Oil Absorption and Grinding
A special feature of lead white is its low oil-absorption rate. According to some it requires only 9 to 15 grams of oil to make a workable paste with 100 grams of lead white. It can be used with aqueous media such as egg tempera, gum Arabic (watercolor) and animal glue. It can also be used in encaustic (wax) technique, but does not appear to perform well in true fresco technique.

Toxicity
Lead white is toxic if inhaled as a dust or if ingested. Grinding and making the pigment into paint is hazardous and the sale of lead compounds in several countries has been prohibited. Painters may suffer from "painters' colic" or "plumbism" if they are careless in using it. Extreme care should be used in handling the dry powder pigment so as not to inhale the dust. Do not smoke, eat or drink while using the pigment in any form, including in a paint binder.

Rublev Colours Pigment: Lead White

Pigment Information
Color:	White
Colour Index:	Pigment White 1
Chemical Name:	Basic Lead Carbonate
Chemical Name:	2PbCO₃ Pb(OH)₂
ASTM Lightfastness Rating
Acrylic:	I
Oil:	I
Watercolor:	Not Rated
Properties
Density:	6.5+
Hardness:	3.0–3.5
Refractive Index:	n_α=1.803 n_β=2.074 n_γ=2.076