(TiO2)(1) (CeO2)(1-x) (RE2O3)(x) - novel environmental secure pigments

This paper embodies the results of the investigations carried out on the synthesis of titania - rare earth mixed oxide pigments: (TiO2)(1) (CeO2)(1-x) (RE2O3)(x), where RE = Y, Pr, Nd or Sm with nominal compositions: x = 0.2 and 0.8 and their characterization by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometric analysis and reflectance spectral data. The synthesized pigment samples are having color coordinates, low a and high b and exhibit the colors ranging from yellow to orange-red. The dominant reflectance of these colorants lies in the wavelength region of 600-800 nm. Among the various colorants prepared, Y and Sm doped pigments are found to be promising candidates as ecological pigments because of their high reflectance, lightness and intense coloration. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.