Cadmium colours: composition and properties

Degradation of Cd-yellow paints: Ab initio study of native defects in {10.0} surface CdS

“…The chromatic variation of these pigments depends on their chemical composition, crystalline structure, and on their history in the synthesis process. The brilliant pigment cadmium yellow takes all its coloration from cadmium sulfide which is observed in many pigments in the hexagonal wurtzite phase [1]. The degradation of cadmium yellow occurs primarily in the lighter yellows, and involves discoloration (fading and darkening) producing chalking and crumbly surfaces.…”

Thermal analysis of the interaction of inorganic pigments with p(nBA/MMA) acrylic emulsion before and after UV ageing

“…Compared to ultramarine blue, cadmium red is regarded as one of the most stable pigments with a good hiding power, moderate tinting strength and good thermal stability [1610]; however, it can oxidize to cadmium sulphate when exposed to light in presence of moisture, leading to a consequent loss in colour intensity [72]. Generally, cadmium red is considered a good stabilizer [1711] and it is especially more stable to bleaching when exposed to UV light and air than cadmium yellow, which can oxidise into insoluble colourless sulphates [1812] mainly due to the added zinc [1610].…”

“…Generally, cadmium red is considered a good stabilizer [1711] and it is especially more stable to bleaching when exposed to UV light and air than cadmium yellow, which can oxidise into insoluble colourless sulphates [1812] mainly due to the added zinc [1610]. Cadmium red is based on cadmium sulfide and sulfoselenide (CdS, xCdSe) and is a product of a reaction between cadmium and sulphur resulting with a hexagonal wurtzite lattice crystallization form.…”

Multi-Modal, Non-Invasive Investigation of Modern Colorants on Three Early Modern Prints by Maria Sibylla Merian

“…High pixel brightness in cadmium, sulphur, and selenium XRF maps in several red regions of plates 54 and 55 (Figure 5) suggests the use of cadmium red to color red regions in both prints [30,41]. Characteristic spectra in hyperspectral data Figure 6) are consistent with those for cadmium red [30,41] namely the inflection point around 590 nm and absorption maximum around 500 nm. Cadmium red became commercially available in 1919, confirming the early twentieth century terminus post quem for the coloring [30].…”