Abstract
In this study, an ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ (hematite) coated porcelain plate was sintered in a temperature range from $1100^{\circ}C$ to $1250^{\circ}C$ using ferrous sulfate. The specimens were investigated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and UV-visible spectrophotometer. It was confirmed that ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ (hematite) was densely fused to the surface at several tens of ${\mu}m$, the ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ (hematite) was in the form of thin platelet and polyhedra, and no other compounds appeared in the sintering process. In the specimen coated with ${\alpha}-Fe_2O_3$ (hematite), the reflectance spectra show a red absorption band of 560-650 nm. The $L^*$ value decreased from 53.18 to 46.94 with the firing temperature. The values of $a^*$ and $b^*$ were at 19.03 and 15.25 at $1100^{\circ}C$ and gradually decreased with increasing temperature; these values decreased rapidly at $1250^{\circ}C$ to 11.54 and 7.98, respectively. It is considered that the new phases are formed by the phase transition of the porcelain plate (clay), and thus the $a^*$ and $b^*$ values are greatly influenced.