Multitechnique approach to V-ZrSiO4 pigment characterization and synthesis optimization

The synthesis of blue-turquoise V-ZrSiO4 Pigment from an aqueous solution of Na2O center dot 2.5SiO(2)center dot 5H(2)O (soluble glass) and the citrate complexes of zirconium and vanadium was investigated as a function of V2O5 contents, mineralizers (NaF and/or LiNO3) addition and thermal cycle. Blue V-ZrSiO4 was obtained without mineralizers addition for the (ZrO2)(SiO2)(V2O5)(0.09) composition; QPA analysis shows that a thermal cycle 3 h long, T-max = 800 degrees C, can lead to a 78.0 wt.% of ZrSiO4. The addition of mineralizers gave rise to 73.0 wt.% of ZrSiO4 for the (ZrO2)(SiO2)(NaF)(0.16)(V2O5)(0.09)(LiNO3)(0.09) composition and a thermal cycle 2 h long, T-max = 800 degrees C. LiN03 can favour both ZrSiO4 formation and a fairly blue colour, up to LiNO3 = 0.09 moles; NaF seems effective on ZrSiO4 formation only when mixed with LiNO3 through the formation of LiF HT-XRD analysis of this composition agrees with QPA results at the corresponding temperature; ZrSiO4 was present (64.0 wt.%) at 730 degrees C and good colour parameters were obtained. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.