Synthesis and characterization of terbium-doped SrSnO3 pigments

Present work contains results related to the synthesis of new ceramic pigments based on strontium stannate in which a part of tin ions was substituted by terbium ions. The pigments of general formula SrSn1−xTbxO3, where x=0-0.5, were synthesized by solid state reaction and by suspension mixing of initial reagents. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, colouristic analysis, lightfastness, scanning electron microscopy and particle size analysis. Single phase powders which were prepared by solid state reaction at the temperature of 1400 °C have a perovskite orthorhombic crystal structure and an increasing content of terbium causes a shift of the diffraction lines and an expansion of the unit cell. Mechanoactivation and the subsequent calcination at the temperature 1500 °C can be suggested as the preferable method for obtaining the pigments with the most interesting colour properties and with the highest light stability. Strontium stannate pigments doped by terbium were characterized with interesting light yellow colour. Formula SrSn0.5Tb0.5O3 presents a composition of the sample with the best colour properties. A technological use of the pigments was tested by application into an organic binder system and high temperature ceramic glazes.