Copper Carbonate Basic

CuCO3.Cu(OH)2

Chemistry

CuO71.940

Volatiles

CO228.060

Significant Temperatures

Links to Other Materials

Hazards

Miscellaneous

Notes

This form of copper carbonate is the article of commerce, this is what you are getting when you buy copper carbonate. It is a mixture of theoretical copper carbonate and copper hydroxide. The chemical structure sees two Cu atoms bonding to an OH each and sharing a CO3. Thus there are no variations in the carbonate/hydroxide mix since this refers to the structure of the molecule.

Copper Carbonate has a fairly complex decomposition as it is heated to melting point. From about 300 to 330C it loses about 28% weight as it decomposes to the heat stable CuO (cupric oxide) which remains stable until 1000C. Around 1050C about 7% is lost, likely involving partial loss of oxygen to form a mix of cuprous and cupric oxides.

Please check the accompanying curve to see the history of weight loss as this material is fired (courtesty of Bob Hickerson, World Metal, LLC). It is interesting to compare this chart with the one for Copper Hydroxide to see the difference in the amount of weight lost, and when and how fast it occurs.

As with other metallic coloring carbonates, copper carbonate is bulkier than the oxide form, thus it tends to disperse better to give more even results. It is also more reactive chemically that the oxide form and thus melts better. As such, it is ideal for use in brush work where minimal speck is required. However it produces gases as it decomposes and these can cause pinholes or blisters in glazes. Also the carbonate form contains less copper per gram, therefore colors are less intense than the oxide form.

The hydroxyl component is an important aid in dispersing the powder throughout the glaze slurry and thus avoid specks in the fired glaze.

Supplies of green copper carbonate basic often vary in color and density (darker and heavier, lighter and fluffier) reflecting variations in raw materials and manufacturing procedures. Despite variations in the physical appearance of the material, the amount of contained copper metal remains essentially constant.


Data

Linked Articles

Suppliers

Authors

Pictures

XML

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<material name="Copper Carbonate Basic" descrip="CuCO3.Cu(OH)2" generic="1" rawmineral="0" searchkey="Cupric Carbonate, Copper (II) Carbonate" loi="28.10">
<families>
<family name="Colorant"/>
</families>
<oxides>
<oxide symbol="CuO" name="Cupric Oxide" status="" percent="71.940" tolerance=""/>
</oxides>
<volatiles>
<volatile symbol="" name="" percent="28.060" tolerance=""/>
</volatiles>
<references>
<reference name="seealso" reason=""/>
<reference name="seealso" reason=""/>
</references>
<hazards>
<hazard name="Copper"/>
</hazards>
<temperatures>
<temperature temperature="1050C" notes="7% weight loss involving partial loss of oxygen to form a mix of cuprous and cupric oxides"/>
<temperature temperature="300-330C" notes="Loses 28% weight as it decomposes to the heat stable CuO"/>
</temperatures>
<suppliers>
<supplier name="Chem One" country="" url="http://www.chemone.com" label=""/>
<supplier name="World Metal, LLC" country="" url="www.worldmetalllc.com" label="Exclusive US Dealer for Bernardy Chimie"/>
</suppliers>
<notes>
<note>This form of copper carbonate is the article of commerce, this is what you are getting when you buy copper carbonate. It is a mixture of theoretical copper carbonate and copper hydroxide. The chemical structure sees two Cu atoms bonding to an OH each and sharing a CO3. Thus there are no variations in the carbonate/hydroxide mix since this refers to the structure of the molecule.

Copper Carbonate has a fairly complex decomposition as it is heated to melting point. From about 300 to 330C it loses about 28% weight as it decomposes to the heat stable CuO (cupric oxide) which remains stable until 1000C. Around 1050C about 7% is lost, likely involving partial loss of oxygen to form a mix of cuprous and cupric oxides.

Please check the accompanying curve to see the history of weight loss as this material is fired (courtesty of Bob Hickerson, World Metal, LLC). It is interesting to compare this chart with the one for Copper Hydroxide to see the difference in the amount of weight lost, and when and how fast it occurs.

As with other metallic coloring carbonates, copper carbonate is bulkier than the oxide form, thus it tends to disperse better to give more even results. It is also more reactive chemically that the oxide form and thus melts better. As such, it is ideal for use in brush work where minimal speck is required. However it produces gases as it decomposes and these can cause pinholes or blisters in glazes. Also the carbonate form contains less copper per gram, therefore colors are less intense than the oxide form.

The hydroxyl component is an important aid in dispersing the powder throughout the glaze slurry and thus avoid specks in the fired glaze.

Supplies of green copper carbonate basic often vary in color and density (darker and heavier, lighter and fluffier) reflecting variations in raw materials and manufacturing procedures. Despite variations in the physical appearance of the material, the amount of contained copper metal remains essentially constant.</note>
</notes>
<testdata>
<testitem testname="2" value="3.90"/>
<testitem testname="2" value="500C D"/>
</testdata>
<pictures>
<picture description="Malachite diagram" filename="malachite.gif"/>
<picture description="TGA-DTA Sample curve for Copper Carbonate" filename="tga-coppercarb.gif"/>
</pictures>
</material>


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