Synthesis and structural characterisation of solid solutions CrxTi1-2x-yVx+yO2 at atmospheric pressure

Solid solutions CrxTi1-2x-yVx+yO2 (0<x<0.15; 0.08<y<0.10) with rutile struc ture have been synthesised by firing mixtures of Cr2O3, V2O5, and TiO2 (ana tase) in air at 800-1200 degrees C and characterised by X-ray diffraction a nd electron microscopy. An excess of vanadium content over the chromium con tent was investigated to include V4+ in the solid solutions. A decrease in the c lattice parameter with increase in the degree of substitution x and a constancy with temperature in the rutile unit cell parameters were observe d in the 900-1200 degrees C range. The thermal stability of these rutile so lid solutions and the colouration of glazes containing 5 wt-% samples indic ate their potential for use as ceramic pigments.