Work programme

Tasks

Participating researchers

Duration (months)

Expected results

WP 1. Synthesis of DIOPSIDE- based ceramic pigments doped with d – transition elements and use of traditional raw materials

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ts. Dimitrov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. M. Stancheva, Assoc. Assoc. Prof. I. Nikolova, Ts. Ibreva PhD student, student Boyan Andreev, student G. Yankov.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. R. Titorenkova, student N. Kuvandzhiev

12 months

From 1 to 12 month

Synthesized ceramic pigments

1.1. Synthesis of ceramics by solid-phase sintering method by introducing different d – transition elements: V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Co, Fe

Ceramic pigments of different phase composition and colour will be synthesized via solid phase sintering method.

1.2. Carrying out experiments on the synthesis of diopside-based ceramic pigments using a low-temperature sol-gel method.

Diopside-based ceramic pigments synthesized via sol-gel method. The results obtained by the two methods will be compared.

1.3. Determination of optimal parameters for pigment synthesis – firing and holding temperature at maximum temperature, type and amount of mineralizer.

Experimental conditions and optimal synthesis parameters – firing temperature, sintering holding temperature and time will be specified.

WP 2. Synthesis of DIOPSIDE- based ceramic pigments doped with f – transition elements and use of traditional raw materials

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ts. Dimitrov, Assoc. Prof. Dr. M. Stancheva, Assoc. Assoc. Prof. I. Nikolova, Ts. Ibreva PhD student, student Boyan Andreev, student G. Yankov.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. R. Titorenkova, student N. Kuvandzhiev

12 months

From 7 to 18 month

2.1. Synthesis of diopside-based ceramics using solid-phase sintering method by introducing chromophore f-transition elements: La, Pr, Nd, Er.

Diopside-based ceramic pigments doped with rare earth elements will be synthesized

2.2. Synthesis of diopside based ceramic pigments doped by f – transition elements via low temperature sol – gel method.

Pigments will be synthesized via sol-gel method. The results obtained by the two methods will be compared.

2.3. Determination of optimal parameters for synthesis

Experimental conditions and optimal synthesis parameters will be specified.

WP 3. Phase composition, structural characteristics, properties and mechanism of colour formation of synthesized pigments based on DIOPSIDE

Assoc. Prof. Dr. R. Titorenkova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Y. Tsvetanova, Prof. Dr. O. Petrov, Prof. Dr. M. Tarasov, Dr. S. Bakardjieva, student N. Kuvandzhiev
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ts. Dimitrov, Ts. Ibreva PhD student, student Boyan Andreev, student G. Yankov.

15 months

From 4 to 18 month

Full characterization

3.1. Characterization of pigments obtained by X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRD), IR spectroscopy (FT-MIR and NIR), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (HR TEM), optical spectroscopy (UV-VIS-NIR) colour, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), photometric measuring, etc.

Phase and chemical composition, morphology, structural features, optical and colour characteristics of the obtained ceramic pigments will be investigated.

3.2. Mechanisms of isomorphic substitution in the crystalline structure of the basic phase. Mechanisms of colour formation.

Clarifying the mechanism of isomorphic substitution. Clarifying the mechanisms of colour formation.

3.3. Correlation dependencies between composition-structure-properties of the newly obtained ceramic pigments

Dependencies between composition-structure-properties will be formulated.

Participating researchers

Duration (months)

Expected results

WP 4. Synthesis of AUGITE-based ceramic pigments doped with d – transition elements and use of traditional raw materials

12 months

From 19 to 30 months

4.1. Synthesis of augite-based pigments by solid-phase sintering method by introducing different d – transition elements: V, Cr, Mn, Co, Fe.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ts. Dimitrov, Assoc. Prof.  M. Stancheva, Assoc. Prof. I. Nikolova, PhD student Ts. Ibreva, B. Andreev, G. Yankov; Assoc. Prof. Dr. R. Titorenkova, student N. Kuvandzhiev

Synthesised Augite-based ceramics with d – transition elements

4.2. Determination of optimal parameters for pigment synthesis – firing and holding temperature at maximum temperature, type and amount of mineralizer.

Experimental conditions and optimal synthesis parameters will be specified. The limitations will be clarified.

4.3. Characterization of pigments by X-ray powder analysis (XRD), IR spectroscopy (FT-MIR), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (HR TEM), optical spectroscopy (UV-VIS-NIR) colour coordinates, etc.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. R. Titorenkova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Y. Tsvetanova, Prof. Dr. O. Petrov, Prof. Dr. M. Tarasov, Dr. S. Bakardjieva, student N. Kuvandzhiev
Assoc. Prof.  Ts. Dimitrov, Dr. A. Zaichuk,
Ts. Ibreva PhD student, students B. Andreev, G. Yankov.

Full characterization

WP 5. Synthesis of DIOPSIDE and AUGITE-based ceramic pigments using Waste materials

14 months

From 22 to 36 months

5.1. Characterization of the waste catalysts

Assoc. Prof. Dr. R. Titorenkova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Y. Tsvetanova, Prof. Dr. O. Petrov, Prof. Dr. M. Tarasov, Dr. S. Bakardjieva, student N. Kuvandzhiev
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ts. Dimitrov, Dr. A. Zaichuk,Ts. Ibreva PhD student, students Boyan Andreev, G. Yankov.

Full characterization

5.2. Synthesis of pigments by solid-phase sintering method using waste materials. Determination of optimal parameters for pigment synthesis – firing and holding temperature, type and amount of mineralizer, etc

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ts. Dimitrov,
Assoc. Prof. Dr. M. Stancheva, Assoc. Prof. I. Nikolova, PhD student Ts. Ibreva, students Boyan Andreev, G. Yankov., Assoc. Prof. Dr. R. Titorenkova, student N. Kuvandzhiev

Synthesised pyroxene-based ceramics using appropriate waste materials.
Experimental conditions and optimal synthesis parameters will be specified.
The limitations will be clarified.

5.3. Characterisation of pigments by X-ray powder analysis (XRD), IR spectroscopy (FT-MIR), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (HR TEM), optical spectroscopy (UV-VIS-NIR), colour coordinates, etc.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. R. Titorenkova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Y. Tsvetanova, Prof. Dr. O. Petrov, Prof. Dr. M. Tarasov, Dr. S. Bakardjieva, student N. Kuvandzhiev
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ts. Dimitrov, Dr. A. Zaichuk, Ts. Ibreva, B. Andreev,G.Yankov

Full characterization

WP 6. Publicity of the project

36 months

1-36 month

6.1. Designing a project website in order to maximize the visibility of project results

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ts. Dimitrovand all members of the team

Website of the project

6.2. Publications in scientific journals Participation in selected scientific conferences

4 papers published in scientific journals with IF or SJR and 8 papers published in conference reports.

6.3. Innovative activity

At least one application for Utility Model or Patent