Malaysian lands are very rich in natural resources especially Shale and Lateritic rocks. The transformations of coloured rocks to colorants for artwork can give a huge impact to the government, industries and consumer. The aim of this research project is to process and produce natural colorants from shale and lateritic rocks into colorants. X-Ray Fluorescent (XRF) was carried out to identify content in each rock whilst Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) was performed in order to determine the sizes of the rocks after grinding accurately. Two grinding methods were carried out, which were by using jar mill and planetary mono mill. The rock colorants were applied to cotton, linen and polyflax based canvasses. All of the rock colorants were mixed with acrylic medium and then applied on canvas by nylon flat brush. The applications on canvases were divided into three stages which are single colour application, tint and shade and the colour mixing. The painted samples (single colour application) were then evaluated based on fastness to light. All of the painted samples in micrometre and nano sizes colorants exhibited excellent results of light fastness testing (Hushinaidi, 2011, p.144). The ranges of colours that are available when converted to colorants are not wide but enough to be used as a substitute colorants beside synthetic colorants. Existing industrial colorants known to be carcinogens to human contact and environment (Porwal, 2015), the use of natural rocks as colorants was less toxic thus is safe for human use. Malaysia is moving towards a cleaner and safe environment. This research finding would be able to fully contribute towards this aim.

References:

Hushinaidi A. H. (2011) Experiments In Micrometer And Nanosizes Of Shale And Lateritic Rock As Colorants On Canvas. UiTM

Tina P. (2015). Paint Pollution Harmful Effects On Environment, [Social Issues and Environmental Problems,Vol.3 (Iss.9:SE): Sep, 2015] ISSN- 2350-0530(O) ISSN- 2394-3629(P)Impact Factor: 2.035 (I2OR) Retrieved from http://www.granthaalayah.com ©International Journal of Research - GRANTHAALAYAH

IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk to Humans. Chemical Agents and Related Occupations. Lyon (FR): International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2012. (IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, No. 100F.) OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE AS A PAINTER. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK304433/