This color of the Egyptians was lost, but scientists managed to find it

A The first Egyptian artists They received the characteristic blue color of their paintings from minerals, such as Laplazuli. However, it was quite expensive to get and was received from Limited sources. Consequently, these ancient alchemists mixed and heated in their stoves with various chemicals until we find what we know today as Egyptian blue. A bright tone that stained frescoes of frescoes to the images of the sarcophagus. The Greeks and the Romans also used it for their own sculptures. However, over time, he fell into oblivion. In the Middle Ages, there was no more Egyptian blue in art. Since then, the recipe to get it was a mystery. There was an idea of ​​ingredients, but not about how to mix them with each other. Fortunately, the team of American scientists managed to reproduce it.

These scientists come from University of Washington, Smithsonov Institute and Museum of Natural History of Carnegie in Pittsburgh. Starting from the base of already known ingredients, they tried various combinations, and then analyzed by methods such as methods as X -Ray -spectrometry and diffraction. This made it possible to study both its microscopic structure and the chemical composition and phase assembly and, in turn, compare it with archaeological examples of ancient Egypt.

These were key steps to reproduce the Egyptian blue Much less blue than we could believe.

Key ingredients of the Egyptian blue recipe

Egyptian blue is the oldest synthetic pigment that is known. The longest samples that were found 5,000 years. This complicates his research; But even in this case, work, which came to the conclusion that it should contain Copper of an unknown source, calcium carbonate, quartz sand and alkali. Therefore, these scientists began with a meeting of all these ingredients. For copper, they tested with three different sources: copper oxide, azure and malachite. They also proved that they mix different quantities, heat them and cool them at realistic temperatures, taking into account the technologies available to the Egyptians. They expected that the result would be similar to the result of blankets, a mineral with a similar blue tint.

Thus, they saw that the Egyptian blue, which coincided with the archaeological remains, was a mixture of microscopic and macroscopic phases that interact to give a tone that is actually not as blue as it seems. Only 50 % of its composition It would be equivalent to dominum. The rest does not correspond to the blue color.

What is all this for?

Initially, these scientists began research To enrich the Egyptian collections of the museum. They were asked to reproduce the Egyptian blue to add several samples to the collection. In fact, they wanted pigmented remarks.

However, since they advanced in the investigation, they knew that Egyptian art is only the top of the iceberg. Their discoveries can have many very interesting applications. And after he has apparently subjected to the light, the Egyptian blue has the ability Will radiate infrared radiationThis field is not visible, but it is and can be captured by specific detectors. This makes it the perfect material for production Safety inkand also used in different areas as Biomedical analysis or telecommunications.

Currently, these scientists have received 12 samples with slightly different recipes that are already exhibited in the museum. Now the next step comes. The one that, of course, the Egyptians would also use the advantages of what they knew how to do it.