Approaching the most intense reddish yellow tone of praseodymium doped zircon pigment.

Praseodymium doped zirconium silicate pigments (Pr x Zr 1-x SiO 4) were synthesized by a solid-state reaction, and the influence of praseodymium fraction (x ​= ​0.03, 0.05 or 0.07), temperature (900, 1000, 1100 or at 1200 ​°C) and calcination time (6, 12, 24 or 48 ​h) was simultaneously tested to determine their effect on colorimetric properties. The chromatic properties are associated with the volume of the unit cell; thus, with the amount of Pr4+ that is integrated into the crystal structure, the ascending concentration of the Pr4+ into zircon structure increases the color intensity only in the range where the unit cell volume is close to 261 ​Å3, lower or higher values result in pigments with lower yellow intensities. An intense reddish-yellow tone can be reached delimited by praseodymium fraction of 0.03 and 0.05, temperature between 900 and 1100 ​°C, and 6 ​h of calcination time. [Display omitted] • Pr4+ into zircon structure increases the color intensity if the unit cell volume is close to 261 ​Å3. • An intense reddish-yellow tone can be reached delimited by praseodymium fraction of 0.03 and 0.05 • An intense reddish-yellow tone can be reached between 900 and 1100 ​°C. • An intense reddish-yellow tone can be reached at 6 ​h of calcination time. • Pigment green tone increases if is synthesized with high calcination time and temperature and high praseodymium fraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]