Spinel Color Synthesis of Ceramic Materials Using L-Alanine as a Biological Fuel In Situ Combustion Reaction

Nanocrystalline Ni _x Mg_1−x Al₂O₄ spinel (x = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1) inorganic pigment were synthesized via low-temperature combustion route employing L-Alanine as a novel environmentally benign fuel and novel fuel. After annealing the combustion synthesis powders at four different temperatures 500, 700, 900, and 1100 °C for 1 hour were studies. The obtained solid powder were identified and analyzed using means X-ray diffraction for solid powders (XRD), FT-IR spectroscopy, diffraction thermal analysis (DTA), CIE L*a*b* color measurement and scanning electron microscope (SEM). XRD patterns shows that all calcite powder have single-phase Ni _x Mg_1−x Al₂O₄ cubic spinel structure. All samples had blue and blue green color, caused by the inclusion of Ni²⁺ in the spinel structure as a tetrahedral geometrically. The colorimetric data the formation of blue pigments for x > 0 to highly negative values of (b*), and the blue green color was produced for (x = 0.7 and 1). SEM image showed nanoparticles with less than 40 nm crystallite size and flakes-like appearance of all synthesis powders.