Abstract
When metal oxides are added into crystalline glaze, colors of glaze and crystals are similar as colorants generally. But the case of NiO in zinc crystalline glaze is different from general color development. When NiO is added to zinc crystalline glaze it can develop two or three colors. The active use of color development mechanism by adding NiO to the zinc crystalline glaze to control color of the base glaze and crystal with stability is investigated. This report is expected to contribute to the ceramic industry in improving application of zinc crystalline glaze. For the experiment of NiO, the quantity of NiO additives is changed to the base glaze for the most adequate formation of willemite crystal from previous research and firing condition: temperature increasing speed $5^{\circ}C/min$, holding 1 h at $1270^{\circ}C$, annealing speed $3^{\circ}C/min$ till $1170^{\circ}C$, holding 2 h at $1170^{\circ}C$ then naturally annealed. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis, and Micro-Raman. The result of the procedure as follows; Ni substitutes for Zn ion then glaze develops blue willemite crystals, as if cobalt is used, on brown glaze base. When NiO quantity is increased to over 5 wt%, willemite size is decreased, and the density of the crystal is increased, at the same time $Ni_2SiO_4$ (olivine) phase, the second phase, has been developed. The excessive NiO is reacted with silicate in the glass then developed green $Ni_2SiO_4$ (olivine), and quantity of $Ni_2SiO_4$ (olivine) is increased as quantity of willemite is decreased. It is proved to create three colors, blue, brown and green by controlling the quantity of NiO to the zinc crystalline glaze and it will improve the multiple use of colors to the ceramic design.