Pigments and inks for the decoration of ceramic objects, which have, in their formulation, iron and phosphorus oxides, combined with lithium oxide, the presence of this latter element being that which gives the pigments the capacity of being milled (in the form of a suspension in a solvent base) to the point of being able to obtain inks that are characterised by having very narrow PSD and an upper bound of less than 1 μm. Thanks to this PSD, inks prepared using these pigments can be applied in standard printing heads to glazed ceramic objects, enabling a metallic gloss and appearance to be obtained after said ceramic objects undergo a firing process. The ink obtain has a low viscosity, allowing an increase in the concentration of the pigment and thus an increase in its yield, optimizing gloss and the metallic appearance of the finished ceramic objects.

An oxidation protection system disposed on a substrate is provided, which may comprise a base layer comprising a first pre-slurry composition comprising a first phosphate glass composition, and/or a sealing layer comprising a second pre-slurry composition comprising a second phosphate glass composition and a strengthening compound comprising boron nitride, a metal oxide, and/or silicon carbide.

At least partial substitution of zirconium by hafnium in ion-conducting zirconium-based ceramics provides enhanced chemical stability in alkaline and acid environments.

At least partial substitution of zirconium by hafnium in ion-conducting zirconium-based ceramics provides enhanced chemical stability in alkaline and acid environments.

A protective coating system includes a substrate that has an exterior surface exhibiting a degree of valley/hill surface irregularity including a plurality of hills and a plurality of valleys and a first coating layer formed directly on to the exterior surface of the substrate and that conforms to the exterior surface of the substrate such that the first coating layer has a non-uniform coating thickness over the substrate. The protective coating system further includes a second coating layer formed directly on to the exterior surface of the first coating layer. The second coating layer includes a plurality of pores within the second coating layer. Still further, the protective coating system includes a third coating layer formed within at least some of the plurality of pores within the second coating layer.

A protective coating system includes a substrate that has an exterior surface exhibiting a degree of valley/hill surface irregularity including a plurality of hills and a plurality of valleys and a first coating layer formed directly on to the exterior surface of the substrate and that conforms to the exterior surface of the substrate such that the first coating layer has a non-uniform coating thickness over the substrate. The protective coating system further includes a second coating layer formed directly on to the exterior surface of the first coating layer. The second coating layer includes a plurality of pores within the second coating layer. Still further, the protective coating system includes a third coating layer formed within at least some of the plurality of pores within the second coating layer.

The present disclosure provides a method for coating a composite structure, comprising forming a first slurry by combining a first pre-slurry composition with a first carrier fluid, applying the first slurry on a surface of the composite structure, and heating the composite structure to a temperature sufficient to form a base layer on the composite structure. The first pre-slurry composition may comprise a first phosphate glass composition and a low coefficient of thermal expansion material, wherein the low coefficient of thermal expansion material is a material with a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 10×10.sup.−6° C..sup.−1.

The present disclosure provides a method for coating a composite structure, comprising forming a first slurry by combining a first pre-slurry composition with a first carrier fluid, applying the first slurry on a surface of the composite structure, and heating the composite structure to a temperature sufficient to form a base layer on the composite structure. The first pre-slurry composition may comprise a first phosphate glass composition and a low coefficient of thermal expansion material, wherein the low coefficient of thermal expansion material is a material with a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 10×10.sup.−6° C..sup.−1.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises providing an additive or aggregate to be applied directly to one or more of the components of a ceramic coating and which is constituted by carbonate apatites particles which are maintained as aggregates within a matrix of silicoaluminates at firing temperatures of the ceramic coatings, where the main function of these aggregates is to provide the ceramic coating properties selected from the group comprising: low effusivity, wear resistance, resistance to chemical attack and resistance to staining. In other aspects, the present invention comprises providing a ceramic coating incorporating said additive and a method for providing a ceramic coating with properties selected from the group comprising: low effusivity, wear resistance, resistance to chemical attack and resistance to staining.

In one aspect, the present invention comprises providing an additive or aggregate to be applied directly to one or more of the components of a ceramic coating and which is constituted by carbonate apatites particles which are maintained as aggregates within a matrix of silicoaluminates at firing temperatures of the ceramic coatings, where the main function of these aggregates is to provide the ceramic coating properties selected from the group comprising: low effusivity, wear resistance, resistance to chemical attack and resistance to staining. In other aspects, the present invention comprises providing a ceramic coating incorporating said additive and a method for providing a ceramic coating with properties selected from the group comprising: low effusivity, wear resistance, resistance to chemical attack and resistance to staining.