Preparation of pigments that imitate the microstructure and coloring of opal jewel and their application to ceramic pottery

Abstract

This is the first study to make ceramic pottery producing structural color, imitating that of opal jewel, by using artificial silica opals. Their colors were different depending on diameter of the silica, and they had changed after heating at 900^oC in air atmosphere. Herein, we have developed a new method to control iridescent / non-iridescent coloring of the silica opals. The difference was explained by the differences in microstructure and light reflected by it. We expect that low toxic abundant properties of silica opals promote their widespread use, and the implementation of structural coloring to ceramic pottery brings revolutionary changes to the ceramic art.