Scientists Discover A Vibrant New Color Due To A Happy Accident

 
The word "blue" did not exist in Greek times, and the color is not very prominent in nature. Yet a team of scientists from Oregon State University (OSU) recently discovered a new blue pigment while experimenting with materials that can be used in electronics applications.

  The researchers mixed manganese oxide (which is black) with other chemicals and heated them to nearly 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. One of their samples was a vivid blue.
OSU chemist Mas Subramanian, explained in a press release, "It was serendipity, actually; a happy, accidental discovery."


According to the university, "The new pigment is formed by a unique crystal structure that allows the manganese ions to absorb red and green wavelengths of light, while only reflecting blue. The vibrant blue is so durable, and its compounds are so stable – even in oil and water – that the color does not fade."
OSU has licensed the pigment, which is named "YInMn" blue (named after the elements Yttrium, Indium and Manganese). It will be used for a variety of coatings and plastics and possibly roofing materials. The pigment is a "cool blue" with infrared reflectivity of about 40 percent, which is much higher than other blue pigments.

Subramanian, who is the Milton Harris Professor of Materials Science in the OSU College of Science, added, "The more we discover about the pigment, the more interesting it gets. We already knew it had advantages of being more durable, safe and fairly easy to produce. Now it also appears to be a new candidate for energy efficiency."


Humans only started developing blue colorants about 6,000 years ago, according to Dunn-Edwards Paints. During this time, the Egyptian word for "blue" emerged.

The Egyptians created blue dyes that slowly spread across the world to the Persians, Mesoamericans and Romans. Only royalty could afford these expensive dyes, and the color remained rare for many centuries.