The basic trends in production of ceramic pigments based on silicates of different crystal structure are examined. The features of synthesis of the pigments and formation of chromophore phases are demonstrated. The use of natural silicate and aluminosilicate materials will allow expanding the raw materials base, reduce the temperature of synthesis, and produce pigments of a broader palette for decorating porcelain and faience articles.S. G. Tumanov proposed the current classification of ceramic pigments [1], basing it on the crystal structures of refractory, chemically stable minerals of the spinel, corundum, baddeleyite, garnet, and other types. The chromophore ions Co 2+ , Ni 2+ , Cr 3+ , Fe 3+ , V 3+ , and Mn 3+ , whose properties (radius and charge) are close to the ions replaced in the structure of the lattice, can be incorporated in these crystal structures in high-temperature synthesis. This approach made it possible to use purposeful synthesis to obtain a broad palette of ceramic pigments.However, the raw-material base for synthesis of ceramic pigments has expanded significantly in recent years, which will allow refining the structural approach and proposing new variants for pigment synthesis. In particular, the use of silicates and aluminosilicates of different structures as raw materials has increased significantly [2 -5]. The solid-phase reactions take place at relatively low temperatures. Not only incorporation of transition element ions in the crystal structures of silicates but also formation of chromophore phases, the products of the reaction, take place during synthesis of pigments.The silicates used in synthesis of pigments can be divided into two groups [6]: silicates with silica motifs of finite size: with isolated [SiO 4 ] 4-tetrahedrons (island structures); with groups of [SiO 4 ] 4-tetrahedrons of finite size; silicates with silica motifs of infinite size in one or more directions: with like chains or ribbons of [SiO 4 ] 4-tetrahedrons (chain or ribbon structures); with two-dimensional layers of [SiO 4 ] 4-tetrahedrons (layered structures); with three-dimensional backbones of [SiO 4 ] 4-tetrahedrons (backbone structures). Island structures have minerals of the olivine (forsterite, fayalite), garnet (grossularite), monticellite, akermanite, rankinite, and other groups. Pigments with the structure of forsterite, 2MgO × SiO 2 , were synthesized by partial substitution of MgO by CoO, and NiO and [SiO 4 ] 4-tetrahedrons by Fe 2 O 3 , Cr 2 O 3 [7]. In incorporation of CoO in the structure of forsterite, pink to purple pigments are obtained as a function of the amount of coloring oxide [8], and in incorporation of NiO, the pigment is green. Incorporation of Fe 2 O 3 decreased the synthesis temperature and increased the degree of sintering. Judging by the absorption spectra, partial incorporation of [CoO 6 ] in the crystal structure of forsterite instead of [MgO 6 ] took place. The green coloring of nickel-containing forsterite is due to formation of Ni 2 SiO 4 and [NiO 6 ].Pigments of forsterite st...
