Egyptian Blue (CaCuSi₄O₁₀)

Synthetic Inorganic Pigment Powder

Egyptian Blue is a historically significant synthetic inorganic pigment defined by its crystal structure rather than its provenance. Chemically, it is a calcium copper silicate (CaCuSi₄O₁₀) with a layered silicate framework that produces a stable blue through lattice-scale electronic structure rather than molecular dyes or chromophores.

This pigment is supplied as a dry, unbound powder and contains no binders, extenders, or additives.

Material & Structure

Egyptian Blue contains square-planar Cu²⁺ centers embedded within a rigid Si₄O₁₀ silicate lattice. Its color and optical behavior arise from crystal-field splitting and long-range internal electric fields generated by the crystal as a whole, shifting electronic transitions relative to simpler copper oxides or silicates.

Beyond visible color, Egyptian Blue exhibits anisotropic solid-state behavior characteristic of layered silicates, including low thermal conductivity dominated by phonon scattering and anomalous near-infrared luminescence linked to extended lattice coherence rather than surface chemistry.

The result is a pigment whose optical and physical properties are governed by extended crystal structure, not surface treatment or molecular additives.

Historical Context

Egyptian Blue was synthesized beginning in the third millennium BCE using high-temperature kiln processes and mineral precursors. It represents the earliest known instance of intentional pigment synthesis at scale, predating later copper silicate pigments such as Han Blue by more than a millennium.

Its persistence across cultures reflects continuity of material performance rather than revival of lost knowledge.

Production Philosophy

Elemental Color produces pigments in small batches using high-purity inorganic reagents and tightly controlled thermal processes. Our synthesis approach emphasizes material fidelity and structural correctness over cosmetic uniformity.

Batch-specific synthesis and characterization data are maintained by the manufacturer and made publicly available.

Details

Composition: Calcium copper silicate (CaCuSi₄O₁₀)
Form: Dry inorganic pigment powder
Net weight: 4oz–1lb
Batch size: Small-batch production
Country of origin: United States

Important Notes

• Supplied as a raw pigment only; no binders, extenders, or additives included

• Not a food, cosmetic, or consumer coating; not for human or animal consumption

• No claims are made regarding fitness for any specific application

• Handle using standard professional precautions for fine powders

• No canonical SDS exists for Egyptian Blue; a research materials safety brief is available upon request