Basic Knowledge of Inorganic Pigments (1)
Release time:
2026-02-04 15:45
Source:
China Enamel Industry Association
1. Concepts of Pigments and Inorganic Pigments
1.1 Pigments
Pigments are substances that can color objects. Pigments are generally divided into inorganic pigments and organic pigments.
Pigments also have soluble and insoluble properties. Soluble pigments, also called dyes, can be directly used to dye fabrics, etc., using solutions. Insoluble pigments need to be finely ground and added to a medium, such as resin, oil, or water, and then applied to the surface of the object to be dyed to form a coating layer or dispersed into the material to be colored.
Inorganic pigments are generally mineral substances. Humans have known how to use inorganic pigments for a long time, utilizing colored soil and minerals to paint on rock walls and apply to the body. Organic pigments are generally derived from plants and marine animals, such as indigo, gamboge, and the purple extracted from shellfish in ancient Rome. Modern pigments are made from many synthetically produced chemicals, satisfying various applications requiring detailed hue classification.

1.2 Inorganic Pigments
Inorganic pigments are pigments whose main component is inorganic matter. Almost all inorganic pigments are compounds, often complex mixtures, in which metallic components are important molecular components.
Inorganic pigments include various metal oxides (covering environmentally friendly mixed-phase inorganic pigments), chromates, carbonates, sulfates, and sulfides (including cadmium-based pigments such as cadmium red and cadmium yellow). Examples include aluminum powder, copper powder, carbon black, zinc white, and titanium dioxide.
Inorganic pigments are further divided into natural and synthetic inorganic pigments. Naturally occurring inorganic pigments are derived entirely from mineral resources, such as naturally occurring cinnabar, red clay, and realgar. Synthetic inorganic pigments are synthesized through chemical reactions, such as titanium dioxide, chrome yellow, iron blue, cadmium red, cadmium yellow, lithopone, carbon black, iron oxide red, and iron oxide yellow.
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