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Why are barns in the United States often red? (i.imgur.com)

submitted 1 year ago by bayport@yall.theatl.social to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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[–] doggle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 47 points 1 year ago (2 children)

It also happens to be cheap. Other pigments are hard to manufacture. Rust is easy.

Even today red paint is sometimes cheaper, especially when ordered in bulk.

[–] Plibbert@lemmy.ml 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Wait really red pigment is mainly rust? I'd imagine that would turn a orangish brown. Or brownish orange.

[–] Cqrd@lemmy.dbzer0.com 6 points 1 year ago

It’s not mainly rust any more, they figured out a way to replicate the effect without using actual rust. It’s just pigment, and now red is probably cheaper because more people buy it because it’s traditional.

[–] Umbrias@beehaw.org 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Blood is also red due to iron for the sane reasons rust is red. Rust isn't very vibrant on metal for other reasons, I'd assume mostly because it's mixed with something not clear.

[–] Silentiea@lemm.ee 1 points 1 year ago

I'm not sure if this is why, bit the color depends on how oxidized each atom of iron becomes, so if you have a mix of different oxidation levels, you would also have a mix of the colors

[–] Thorny_Thicket@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Also seems to be the color that degrades in the sun the fastest

[–] Hikermick@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I thought red faded the fastest? It's always the first color to dissappear from advertisements in store windows. Also I remember hearing about people needing to get the red ink on their tattoos touched up after so many years though I think newer ink has improved