Investigation of the use of phosphorusence pigments in artistic ceramic glaze

In this study, pigment-added glazes with bluish-green phosphorescence effect were developed in the dark environment after being stimulated in sunlight or ultraviolet light, and their effects on ceramic surfaces were examined chemically and physically by firing them at different temperatures. For this purpose, in the first part of the study, commercial frits were supplemented with phosphorescent pigments containing Eu2+ and Dy3+, belonging to the strontium aluminate (SrAl2O4) system, in ratios of 5%, 10 and 15 by weight. Glazes developed with A, B, and C frits were applied to stoneware and porcelain bodies to obtain ceramic glazes with glowing surfaces in the dark. To determine the optimum firing conditions, it was studied at 950-980-1010°C, and the surface properties and glow-in-the-dark times of the samples to which glaze recipes were applied were compared. In the final phase of the study, to prevent surface development problems in the initial recipes and ensure homogeneous pigment distribution, fluoride flux was added in different proportions to the recipes with 10% bluish-green phosphorescent pigment developed with A, B, and C frits. When the glazes, evaluated for their glowing and surface properties in dark and light environments, were examined, it was observed that varying the MY pigment ratios, temperature values, and bodies (stoneware and porcelain) resulted in different luminescence and surface properties. The best surface properties were observed in the glazes with 10% MY pigment. The AF10 and BF10 glazes provided the best results. Among the flux-added glazes, the AE3, BE4, and BE3 glazes achieved the best results. The glazes that exhibited optimal surface and glowing properties were applied to artistic ceramic works.