Synthesis of Y(Al,Cr)O3 red pigments by co-precipitation method and their interactions with glazes

New red pigment based on the system YAl1−yCryO3 (y = 0.01–0.1) was synthesized by co-precipitation method. The precipitant was attained by mixing solutions of yttrium, aluminum and chromium nitrates, respectively, and addition of ammonia as the precipitator. The effects of chromium as dopant and glaze composition on the color shade of resulting pigments were studied. EDX analysis of the prepared pigment particles, which was embedded in glaze, showed the occurrence of reactions between some glaze constituents and pigment particles. Accordingly, a glaze which was enriched in Al2O3 and poor in ZnO was more suitable in point of achieving a reddish shade. The resulting pigments were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM and UV–vis spectrophotometer.