Mixed metal oxide pigments

Abstract Mixed metal oxide (MMO) pigments, also knowns as complex inorganic color pigments (CICPs), are an important class of inorganic pigments. They are representatives of the blue, green, yellow, brown, and black pigments. These pigments are called mixed complex because they contain two or more different metals in the composition. Their main advantages are high opacity, heat stability, useful infrared properties, light- and weather fastness, and chemical resistance. MMOs are solid solutions of metal oxides, which are homogenously distributed in their crystal lattices. They are based on different types of crystal structures, such as rutile, spinel, inverse spinel, hematite, priderite, and pseudobrookite. Other products belonging to the CICPs besides the rutile and spinel type MMOs are pigments based on zirconium silicate (zircon, ZrSiO 4 ). Such compositions belong to the class of ceramic pigments (color stains for glazes).