Cobalt Titanate Green

Synthetic inorganic pigment

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Composition and Properties of Cobalt Titanate Green

Cobalt titanate green is a mixed metal oxide of cobalt and titanium with the formula of Co2TiO4. It is not to be confused with cobalt green also called Rinmann’s green which is a mixed oxide of cobalt and zinc. 

The pigment is a very stable and lightfast and is also not toxic. It shows a slightly yellowish tint which makes it ideal for landscape painting.

cobalt-titanate-green-crystals

Pigment

cobalt-titanate-green-painted-swatch-F

Painted swatch

Names 

Color Index

PG 50, CI 77377

Word origin

Cobalt: from the German word Kobold meaning evil house spirit. The name was originated by medieval miners who believed, that cobalt ores made it difficult to extract silver from silver ore.

Titanium: from Latin titan, from Greek titan, member of a mythological race of giants (originally six sons and six daughters of Gaia and Uranus) who were overthrown by Zeus and the other gods. The name is perhaps from tito “sun, day,”
From Online Etymology Dictionary

Spain Flag

Kobaltgrün

German

Spain Flag

Vert de cobalt

French

Spain Flag

Verde di cobalto

Italian

Spain Flag

Verde de cobalto

Spanish

Preparation

The pigment is prepared by heating the oxides of cobalt and titanium to temperatures between 800 to 1100 °C.

History of Use 

The pigment was discovered around 1930 together with the other mixed oxides of titanium with other elements such as chromium, nickel, and antimony.

References

(1) F. Casadio, A. Bezúr, I. Fiedler, K. Muir T. Trad and S. Maccagnola, Pablo Picasso to Jasper Johns: a Raman study of cobalt-based synthetic inorganic pigments, Special Issue: Raman spectroscopy in art and archaeology, Volume 43, Issue 11, pages 1761–1771, November 2012.

Identification

Raman Spectrum

Raman spectrum can be found in reference (1).

X-Ray Fluorescence Spektrum (XRF)

X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrum in the Free XRF Spectroscopy Database of Pigments Checker, CHSOS website.

References

(1) F. Casadio, A. Bezúr, I. Fiedler, K. Muir T. Trad and S. Maccagnola, Pablo Picasso to Jasper Johns: a Raman study of cobalt-based synthetic inorganic pigments, Special Issue: Raman spectroscopy in art and archaeology, Volume 43, Issue 11, pages 1761–1771, November 2012.

Further Reading

References

(1) F. Casadio, A. Bezúr, I. Fiedler, K. Muir T. Trad and S. Maccagnola, Pablo Picasso to Jasper Johns: a Raman study of cobalt-based synthetic inorganic pigments, Special Issue: Raman spectroscopy in art and archaeology, Volume 43, Issue 11, pages 1761–1771, November 2012.

S. Muntwyler, J. Lipscher, HP. Schneider, Das Farbenbuch, 2nd. Ed., 2023, alataverlag Elsau, pp. 96-97.