Amount of zinc in titanium white oil paints - some informationApproveRejectUn-ApproveSubscribeUn-Unsubscribe
Question asked 2018-03-09 14:17:46 ...
Most recent comment 2019-07-28 22:20:22
Pigments
Scientific Analysis
Oil Paint
Hi all,
I've emailed several art manufacturers that I use here in the UK regarding the amount of zinc in their titanium white oil paint.
Here are the results which may prove useful to you all:
Company | Proportion of Zinc |
Winsor & Newton - Artist
Oils | "There is not enough to
cause a brittle film--less than 2%." |
Royal Talens - Rembrandt | "The percentage of zinc
oxide for both products is between 5% and 10% … They both contain the same amount of Zinc. The Safflower oil
makes sure it’s getting less yellow." |
Schminke - Norma | "we can say that our
#11114 titanium white have a content of PW4 lower than 10%." |
M Graham - Oil Color | "I have been told that we
use under 3% Zinc in our
Titanium. We do have a zinc free oil 11-181 that I can recommend if there is
a concern." |
Jacksons - Artist and
Professional Oil Range | Won't reply after 2 mails |
Blockx | "Paint made with Titanium
Dioxide pigment is very hard and misses elasticity. So, we do add indeed a
very little Zinc pigment. But the proportion is of course secret. And will
defer from one manufacturer to another. " - Won't
reply after 2 more chasing emails |
M Harding | "It's about 10% of the overall volume." |
Williamsburg | "We are happy to report
that we do not use any zinc in our Titanium White oil paint." - 0% |
Sennelier | Won't reply after 2 mails |
Maimeri - Classico | We can declare that the
proportion of Zinc in Classico Titanium White 018 is moreless 50%." |
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Moderator Answer
(kdeghetal)
We thank you very much for sharing this information. We plan to also share your post with folks in the conservation and preservatoin field as this is useful to them as well!
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Moderator Answer
(ssands)
Great info. We can report that our current Titanium-Zinc contains 2% by overall weight. Would be interesting, if you are gathering these things, to ask if the percentages refer to:
- overall weight (oil and all solids)
- weight of pigments + inert solids
- weight of pigments only
- volume of any of the above
And of course, try to treat this information in a neutral way. While research has not currently identified a safe percentage of zinc, at least one of the principal researchers in this area (Marion Mecklenburg) continues to feel that some as-yet-defined percentage of zinc could be beneficial, providing some film strength to titanium white and acting as a source of active metal ions, which are thought to be critical in the overall structure of a paint film. This is especially true if lead white is not being used in a painting. So always a somewhat complicated picture. In the meantime, transparency in itself is always a good thing and more information is useful for both researchers and artists.
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Moderator Answer
(brian baade)
I will reach out to our contact at Sennelier to see if we
can get a response.
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