Looking for oxidizing color-changing material

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the search for a material or paint that changes color when exposed to air, focusing on properties such as high contrast color transitions, speed of reaction, irreversibility, non-toxicity, and affordability. Participants explore various methods and materials that could achieve similar effects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about a material that changes color from white to black or other high contrast colors when exposed to air, emphasizing the need for a fast, irreversible reaction.
  • Another participant suggests that if no suitable material exists, alternative methods like Transitions lenses could be considered, although they note significant differences such as reversibility and indoor functionality.
  • A third participant mentions the availability of photochromic pigments that change color in response to UV light, but acknowledges their limitations for indoor use.
  • One participant highlights a specific product, Dulux's "magic" white paint, which changes from pink to white upon drying, although this does not meet the original criteria of an air-reactive dye.
  • Another participant expresses uncertainty about the existence of fast-reacting dyes that change color with air exposure, suggesting that while such dyes likely exist, details are unclear.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the availability of a suitable oxidizing color-changing material. Multiple competing views and methods are discussed, but no definitive solution is established.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying degrees of uncertainty regarding the properties and availability of materials that meet the specified criteria. Limitations include the dependency on environmental conditions and the nature of the color change reactions.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals exploring materials science, chemistry, or those looking for innovative applications in design and art involving color-changing materials.

Tommy_P
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Hi,

I wonder if there is a material or paint/dye that would change color when exposed to air? Ideally, it should have the following properties:

White-to-black, black-to-white, or any other high contrast color transition (e.g, yellow-to-brown would work too)
Works under normal conditions
Transition should occur within seconds (e.g., anywhere between 1 and 20 seconds)
Color change is irreversible
Non-toxic
Reasonably cheap

Thank you for any tips! :smile:

P.S. As you can probably tell from my question, I'm totally not an expert in materials or chemistry, so please answer in "plain English". :smile:

P.P.S. Also, the first thing that comes to mind is how an apple turns brown when one bites off a piece. I think this is kind of the effect I'm looking for.
 
Last edited:
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Hi, everybody. So no answers... which means there's no such thing?

Well, is there any other method to achieve a similar color-changing effect? I'm thinking Transitions lenses that react to UV. It is different from what I'm after in several aspects:
1. Doesn't work indoors
2. Reversible and expensive

Any thoughts? Thanks!
Tom
 
Thanks, B0b-A! I had a hunch these paints do exist. The only problem, they react to UV, so won't work indoors. Also this will probably work differently on a sunny day vs an overcast day. That's why initially I was hoping to find an oxidizing dye, because the % of oxygen is always about the same everywhere.
 
Dulux have "magic" white paint which is pink until it dries white in about an hour ...

https://www.dulux.co.uk/shop/interior-paints/magic-white-silk

Ideal if you want temporary pink graffiti on a white wall :smile:
 
Fast reaction (within seconds) can be difficult, but there should be plenty of dyes capable of reacting with air oxygen and substantially changing their color. Trick is - while I am pretty sure they must exist, I have no idea about details.
 

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