High-purity cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) fine reddish-brown powder. Used as red ceramic glaze colorant, chemical catalyst, antifouling pigment, and copper chemical synthesis.
High Grade Red Grade RR is a premium cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) with a molecular weight of 143.09, supplied as a fine reddish-brown powder that is insoluble in water but soluble in hydrochloric acid and ammonium hydroxide. Cuprous oxide contains copper in the +1 oxidation state, distinguishing it from cupric oxide (CuO) in its color, reactivity, and applications. Cuprous oxide is used as a colorant and pigment in glass, ceramic glazes, and enamels, where it produces vibrant red and brownish tones — particularly in reduction-fired glazes where it creates the prized copper-red or oxblood glaze effects used in art ceramics and specialty glass. In marine and industrial antifouling coatings, cuprous oxide is the primary biocidal pigment, preventing the attachment of barnacles, algae, and other marine organisms to ship hulls, dock pilings, and underwater structures. It also serves as a catalyst in chemical synthesis, including the Ullmann ether synthesis, and as a starting material for preparing other copper compounds and specialty plating solutions. Supplied as fine reddish-brown powder.
Common technical inquiries regarding High Grade Red Grade RR
Copper-red glazes are produced by firing cuprous oxide-containing glazes in a strongly reducing atmosphere at high temperatures (cone 9–11, approximately 2,300–2,380°F). Under these conditions, copper remains in the +1 (cuprous) or is further reduced to colloidal metallic copper, which produces the characteristic deep red color through Mie scattering of light by nanoscale copper particles. Achieving consistent copper-red glazes requires precise control of firing temperature, atmosphere, and cooling rate — it is one of the most technically demanding effects in ceramics.
Cuprous oxide is the dominant biocidal pigment in ablative and contact-leaching antifouling paints because it releases cuprous ions (Cu⁺) at a controlled rate as the coating weathers in seawater, and Cu⁺ is highly toxic to barnacle larvae, algae spores, and other fouling organisms at very low concentrations. The reddish-brown color of cuprous oxide also provides visual contrast for inspection. Its low solubility in water ensures a sustained-release mechanism rather than rapid depletion, maintaining effective antifouling protection over the coating's service life.
The Ullmann ether synthesis is a copper-catalyzed coupling reaction between aryl halides and phenols or alcohols to form diaryl ethers and aryl alkyl ethers. Cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) serves as the copper catalyst precursor, generating the active copper species under reaction conditions. This reaction is used in pharmaceutical and fine chemical synthesis to construct ether linkages in complex organic molecules. The high purity of Grade RR cuprous oxide ensures catalyst performance consistency and minimizes side reactions from metallic impurities.
High-purity 99% Al powder in 100-325 mesh for pyrotechnics, rocket fuel, conductive coatings, and industrial applications requiring fine metallic aluminum.
