Nanocrystalline pigments for ceramic glazes have been obtained by mechanochemical insertion of Fe and Ti in an a-Al2O3 hostmatrix (Fe an d Ti oxides were reduced by high energy milling with metallic Al with subsequent formation of additional Al2O3 by oxidation of Al(0)).

The powders have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, laser granulometry and by surface area and porosity measurements. Sol-gel techniques have also been used in order to obtain pigments with pure Al2O3 and Cr or Fe/Ti-doped Al2O3.

Pigments have been prepared using Al(III)-alkoxides or Al(III)-inorganic salts, obtaining products with different characteristics in the two cases.

Pigments have been studied by X-ray diffraction, surface area and porosity measurements and by the analysis of electrochemical reactivity in aqueous suspensions.

Coloring properties of pigments obtained by mechanomaking and by sol-gel techniques have been tested in ceramic glazes; their properties have also been analyzed by insertion in ceramic bodies for glazed gres (porcelain) technology.

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