New outlooks on ceramic pigments.

The recent advances concerning the processing and the physico-chemical properties of ceramic pigments are reviewed, focusing on innovative technologies and crystalline structures no formerly proposed for colouring ceramic wares. In particular, new insights into the colouring mechanisms are outlined as well as the design, characterization and use of new pigments are discussed. The unconventional processes applied to pigments production have been surveyed, considering both new synthesis routes (continuous firing, microwave, mechanosynthesis, etc.) and innovative ways of mixing precursors (sol-gel, coprecipitation, Pechini, etc.).