Resumo Sintetizaram-se pigmentos do sistema Zn2-xNixSiO4 variando a proporção molar de zinco e níquel, partindo da estrutura willemita (Zn2SiO4) à olivina (Ni2SiO4), usando areia descartada de fundição (ADF) e sílica comercial como fontes de SiO2. A ADF foi caracterizada por análise química e DRX. A síntese dos pigmentos seguiu rota cerâmica, com x = 0, 0,5, 1, 1,5 e 2,0 mol e calcinação a 1200 °C. Os pigmentos foram caracterizados mediante DRX e medidas colorimétricas. Os resultados mostraram que, apesar da presença de alumina e ferro na ADF, as fases cristalinas e cor dos pigmentos foram similares para ambas as fontes de sílica. Teores menores de níquel favoreceram a formação de willemita e maiores a de olivina. Todos os pigmentos (com e sem ADF) dispersos em dois esmaltes e queimados em forno semi-industrial desenvolveram coloração marrom, indicando instabilidade destes nas matrizes usadas, mas confirmando a viabilidade de substituição da sílica comercial por ADF.

Abstract Pigments of Zn2-xNixSiO4 system were synthesized varying molar ratio of zinc and nickel, starting from willemite (Zn2SiO4) to olivine (Ni2SiO4) structure, using waste foundry sand (WFS) and commercial silica as sources of SiO2. WFS was characterized by chemical analysis and XRD. The synthesis of pigments was performed by ceramic route with x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2.0 mol and calcination at 1200 ºC. They were characterized by XRD and colorimetric measurements. Results showed that, despite the presence of alumina and iron traces in the WFS composition, the crystalline phases of pigments and their colors were similar for both silica sources. Also, lower additions of nickel favored the willemite formation, while higher ones favored the olivine formation. The brown color was noticed when the pigments were dispersed in two types of ceramic glazes and fired in a semi-industrial oven; as a result, instability was identified. However, the feasibility of obtaining pigments by replacing commercial silica with WFS was confirmed.