WP2 – Conducting experiments on the synthesis of spinel ceramic pigments by introducing Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Cu as chromophore elements by using traditional raw materials and waste.

Start and end of the work package: from Month 7 to Month 18
Work package leader: assoc. prof. Tzvetan Dimitrov
Participants in the implementation of the work package: From University “Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov “, Burgas in WP2 will participate: Prof. Dr. Irena Markovska, Assoc. Prof. Tsvetan Dimitrov, Ph. Eng. Fila Yovkova, Tsvetalina Ibreva, Stanka Yaneva, Sevdjan Raffeva Chittalova, Academician Ivan Stoyanov Gutzov – consultant + the entire teams from IPC-BAS and UCTM

Planned tasks:

Task 2.1

Investigation of the technological conditions for the synthesis of spinel pigments and determination of the optimal parameters of  synthesis – temperature of firing, temperature of  retention, type and quantity of mineralizers.
Using  pure and waste raw materials (rice husk ash, waste catalysts) for the production of pigments.

Deliverable

Established technological conditions for the synthesis of spinel pigments and specified optimal parameters of synthesis – temperature  of  firing and temperature  of retention.

Task 2.2

Investigation of the properties of the obtained spinel pigments by X-ray analysis, IR spectroscopy, electronic paramagnetic resonance, electron microscopy, color measurement (by Lovibont Tintometer RT 100 Colour), etc. Comparison of quality and properties of synthesized pigments from pure and waste raw materials.

Deliverable

Full characterization of spinel pigments by all possible methods.

Task 2.3

Synthesis of pigments by solid-phase sintering and the sol-gel method.
Comparison of the resulting pigments by both methods, with respect to the quantity of spinels synthesized –  through the X-ray analysis, the synthesis temperature, the pigment structure, etc.

Deliverable

Synthezed pigments by solid-phase sintering and the sol-gel method.
Obtained and characterized spinel pigments. Established optimum conditions for the synthesis of spinel pigments found best suited for practical applications.

Results, which will be used for evaluation of the intermediate or final report of the project

WP1 and WP2 will be implemented during the first stage of the project. At the intermediate stage, it is envisaged to conduct semi-industrial experiments on the applicability of the best pigments synthesized in the first stage (willemite and spinel) in  the glazes, using in  KAY group of ceramic tile plants – “Khan Asparuh”, town Isperih and “Khan Omurtag”,  town Shumen.