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Manganese Ferrite Black, Spinel Black

PBk26

Alternate Name

Cobalt Black

Pigment Description

A rare paint, this is one of the darker blacks, this is made of Manganese Ferrite Black Spinel. Interestingly we've found some groupings of the Manganese Ferrite Blacks as well as some cross-overs in pigment codes. Some suppliers also list PBk33 alongside PBk26.

This is often described as a deep blue-black. According to this supplier PBk26 has ultraviolet and near-infrared absorbency and can also increase the gloss of the paint film.

In terms of artists paints, PBk26 is rare, and PBk28 seems to be used instead at this point. For example, Gamblin's Black Spinel is not PBk26, but rather it is PBk28.

See the Artist's Guide to Health and Safety for the health issues associated with Manganese. The author also mentions in her updated work that Spinels have not been well studied in body fluids and that it should be assumed they release metals. Her updated work can be found through her site.

Resources

Stats

Lightfastness

Excellent

Considered ASTM I, excellent.

Transparency

Opaque

Toxicity

Thought to be category of lesser concern, with caveats

Monona Rossol comments in regard to Spinels (which include a number of pigments) that "Their solubility in body fluids has not been studied and it should be assumed that they release metals." More research needs to be done, so there could be some potential unstudied hazards here (as with most pigments). We have also heard anecdotal horror stories regarding manganese in dry pigments, so please consult the proper health and safety experts as we are not toxicologists, and treat all pigments and paints with studio safety protocols.

Tinting

Good

Oil Content

Low/Lean to Moderate

Approx 30g/100g oil

Particle Size

Very Fine

Chemical Name

Manganese Ferrite Black Spinel, manganese and iron spinel

Dry Pigments listing PBk26

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