Synthesis and characterization of Cr-doped diopside ceramics

A series of ceramics in the system CaO–Cr2O3–MgO–SiO2 was synthesized via solid-state high temperature sintering at 1000, 1100 and 1200 °C. The resulting ceramics were examined by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, infrared and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The color characteristics were measured spectrophotometrically. It was found that under the synthesis conditions multiphase ceramics were obtained which contain diopside, wollastonite, magnesiochromite, cristobalite, tridymite and periclase in various proportions. The synthesized ceramics are gray, gray-green and green in color, depending on the content of Cr additive, temperature of furnace and phase composition.