Preparation and chromatic properties of C@ZrSiO4 inclusion pigment via non-hydrolytic sol–gel method

• C@ZrSiO4 inclusion pigment was prepared by non-hydrolytic sol–gel method.
• The darkness of the samples prepared by different solvents was decrease in sequence of isopropyl alcohol, alcohol and benzene.
• The pigment exhibits excellent chromatic value about 42.01.

A zirconium silicate coated carbon (C@ZrSiO4) black pigment was prepared via a non-hydrolytic sol–gel (NHSG) process. Phenolic resin was carbonized at high temperature in N2 atmosphere and dense ZrSiO4 was coated on its surface to prevent it to be oxidized for the glaze application. The structure and morphology of samples were studied by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The chromatic value of the pigments was characterized by the CIE color system. XRD results reveal that the ZrSiO4 phase can be obtained at 650 °C and degree of crystallinity increases with increasing the calcination temperature. The darkness of the samples prepared by different solvents was decrease in sequence of isopropyl alcohol, alcohol and benzene, which is consistent with their solubility to phenolic resin. After calcining at 900 °C for 2 h, the small in-situ carbon was tightly coated by zirconium silicate to form the inclusion pigment. This pigment exhibits excellent chromatic value (L* = 42.01) and good stability in transparent glaze, which indicates it is a potential candidate for ceramic pigments application.