Synthesis and Characterization of Red Pearlescent Pigments Based on ‎Muscovite and Zirconia-Nanoencapsulated Hematite

A ‎ pplications of mica-based ‎pearlescent pigments are related to ‎plastics, cosmetics, automobiles ‎coatings among others, but they ‎seem to be not explored by the ‎ceramic industry. In this work, ‎intensively red and gold colored ‎muscovite pigments covered with ‎layer of nanoparticles containing ‎iron and zirconium oxides were ‎prepared by homogeneous ‎precipitation. The final color was ‎obtained after thermal annealing. ‎The pigments were characterized ‎by X-ray diffraction, scanning ‎electron microscopy and X-ray ‎fluorescence as well as measuring ‎colorimetric parameters of the ‎obtained ceramic materials. ‎Results indicated that ‎nanoparticles are formed on ‎muscovite flakes and the red factor ‎increases with iron content. Prog. ‎Color Colorants Coat. ‎‏5‏‎(2012), 7-‎‎13. © Institute for Color Science ‎and Technology.‎