• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.145-151
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• 2005

Color enhancement of African rubies with dark red was carried out by the heat treatment and the hydrothermal treatment method respectively. The heat treatment method brought about an adverse effect causing the color to be deteriorated. However, the hydrothermal treatment method enhanced its color and clarity. The hydrothermal treatment conditions for color enhancement of them were as follows: solvent: 0.9M $Na_2CO_3-1M\;K_2CO_3$, temperature: $450^{\circ}C$, duration: 48 hrs, filling: $30\%$, pressure: 375 atm. As the results of characteristics for African rubies obtained under these conditions, it was known that the amount of $Cr^{3+},\;Fe^{3+},\;Ti^{4+}$ was reduced after the hydrothermal treatment from the ICP/MS and XRF analyses. Also, it was found that the red color from the colorimeter analyses was getting lighter. These results were consistent with the PL analysis showing that the intensity of the luminescence peak generated by the electron transition of $Cr^{3+}$ ion became lower after the hydrothermal treatment compared with the non-treated rubies.