Definition

Noun: - A white, dense, insoluble, and radiopaque powder: A fine, white inorganic compound, primarily barium sulfate (BaSO₄), used extensively as a pigment and filler due to its high density, chemical inertness, and ability to block X-rays.

Usage

• As a pigment/filler: Blanc fixe is used to provide opacity, whiteness, and body in paints, coatings, plastics, and paper.
  • The artist mixed blanc fixe into the oil paint to increase its opacity and improve its texture.
• As a radiopaque agent: In medical imaging, its radiopaque properties make it useful as a contrast medium for X-ray examinations of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • The patient ingested a suspension containing blanc fixe before the abdominal X-ray.

Advanced Usage

• In industrial applications: Beyond pigments, blanc fixe serves as a weighting agent in drilling muds, a component in friction materials like brake linings, and a filler in rubber and glass production due to its high density and chemical stability.
  • The manufacturer added blanc fixe to the rubber compound to increase its density and wear resistance.

Variants and Related Words

• Barium sulfate (BaSO₄): The chemical name for blanc fixe.
• Permanent white: Another name for blanc fixe, especially in artistic contexts.
• Barytes: A related term for the natural mineral form of barium sulfate, which is often processed to create the purified blanc fixe.

Synonyms

• Barium sulfate
• Permanent white
• Barytes (in its processed, purified form)

Notes on Meaning

This term refers specifically to the precipitated, synthetic, and purified form of barium sulfate. It is distinguished from the less pure, naturally occurring mineral barytes. Its key characteristics are its pure whiteness, fine particle size, and high density.

Noun

1. a white insoluble radiopaque powder used as a pigment