New Environmental Friendly Yellow Ceramic Pigments of the Type (FeIIIMV)-TiO2

Abstract

The family of Cr(III) and Fe(III)-doped rutile pigments of nominal composition (MIIIM’ V )xTi1-2xO2 , with MIII = Cr(III) or Fe(III) and M’(V) = Sb, Nb, Ta, with x = 0.03, 0.15 and 0.25 were investigated as ceramic pigments covering the yellow-ochre-brown palette. The formulations containing Fe(III) are novel compositions not included in the commercial rutile pigments. The materials were characterized by XRD (X-ray diffraction) analysis and FTIR (Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy). The transition temperature from anatase-to-rutile was estimated by the evolution of the spectral patterns. This crystal phase transition is responsible of the color formation. A higher distortion of TiO6 octahedra is observed in the case of (FeSb) containing cells which contribute to the enhancement of the light absorption. The coloring performance of all the formulations were evaluated by enameling the mixtures containing 5% pigments and commercial frits representative of single and double firing industrial processes. The chromatic values obtained are in the yellow to brown domain of the chromatic plot, depending on the composition of the pigment-frit batch. In the case of the Fe-glazes, and particularly the combination (FeNb), the chromatic values are close to the best yellow tinting. This new FeNb-rutile pigment could be a more benign substitute of Cr-yellow pigments. The homogeneity of the enamels was confirmed by SEM (scanning electron microscopy)-EDAX (energy dispersive X-ray analysis) microscopy.