Microwave technology applications in the synthesis of ceramic pigments

Long before chemists began altering this word, humans were interested in coloring their painting and their bodies as well as any objects they happened to make. Color is an economical way of creating new intereste in an existing product and is also the mosti immediately noticeable and least-expensive element in decoration. Thus, color is a primary tool in product development and marketing, especially in the ceramic tile industry, where product always becomes part of a general color scheme. This word resumes the experimental word done in the last few years by the CerMIC (Ceramic Investigation Center) at the University of Modena (Italy) regarding the application of the microwave technology to the synthesis of inorganic pigments. The choice has been done trying to reproduce in MW some of the most diffused and interesting crystalline structures capable of inducing coloration in ceramic tile body and coating, that is to say capable of thermal and chemical stability in the glazes or in the body at temperatures as high as 1250 degreesC for short period of times, (5-10 min), in order to evaluated the possible benefic effects of microwave heating treatments in this field.