Aniline Black: History and Chemical Description - Cultural Heritage Science Open Source

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PBk 1 – aniline black

Discovered in 1863, it was the first synthetic industrial pigment. It is used mostly as black printing ink.

Manufacturer/ product code: Kremer / 24100
Chemical Description: Benzenamine, oxidized, C66H51Cr3N11O12
Color: black
Color Index: PBk 1

Aniline black is a synthetic black colorant derived from aniline, developed in the mid-19th century as part of the early coal-tar dye industry. Unlike most black dyes, which rely on mixtures of colorants, aniline black is formed in situ by the oxidative polymerization of aniline, producing a complex, highly conjugated polymeric material with an intense, neutral black appearance. For this reason, it occupies an intermediate position between dyes and pigments, depending on its method of preparation and application.

Aniline black was widely used in textile dyeing, printing inks, carbon papers, wallpapers, and early graphic arts due to its deep color, low cost, and relatively good resistance to light compared to other early synthetic dyes. In artistic and historical objects, it may be encountered in printed materials, manuscripts, retouched photographs, and occasionally in modern paintings, either as a standalone black or mixed with other colorants to deepen tones.

From a conservation perspective, aniline black is generally more lightfast than many aniline dyes, but it is not chemically inert. It can be sensitive to acids, alkalis, and oxidizing environments, which may lead to color alteration or embrittlement of the support, particularly in paper-based objects. As an organic, nitrogen-rich material, it is invisible to elemental analytical techniques such as XRF. Its identification relies on molecular methods, including Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, and chromatographic analysis. The presence of aniline black is an important indicator of 19th- and early 20th-century industrial coloration practices and provides valuable information for dating and conservation strategies.