A new class of red ceramic pigments has been synthesized. These substances, which are environmentally compatible, possess high thermal stability and chemical resistance which means they can be used at high temperatures and during the vitreous phase. Our range is based on ternary oxides such AIII BIII O3 (A = Y, lanthanides; B= Al) with crystalline structures such as perovskite doped with small quantities of Cr+++ acting as chromogen.

In the industrial scale-up mineralizer were used in order to lower the perovskite formation temperature by up to 200°C. The applicability of these compounds as pigments has been tested at high temperatures intended for porcelain gres and glazes. Results obtained were satisfying both in terms of chromatic development and thermal stability.

In recent years the development of new ceramic materials has fostered the research and application of pigments which remain stable at temperatures of over 1,200°C. (as for the techniques of “porcelain gres” and “single-firing”). There are few crystalline materials which remain unaltered under such conditions and they belong to a restricted number of structures which include the zirconium silicates, spinels, corundum and rutile.

Among the high thermal-resistant red pigments, only those bearing zirconates with the formula ZrSiO4:Fe and ZrSiO4:Cd(S,Se) have been used up to now, however the colors obtained, especially for iron-based ones, were of a less pure shade and possessed lower color intensity. Moreover the sulphoselenide zirconates contain substances that are potentially dangerous for the environment.

The perovskite-based pigments have high hue and saturation and are environmentally compatible. Their general formula is AIIIBIIIO3 and the development of color depends on small quantities of CrIII acting as dopant and on the nature of the A atom.