What is zirconia

Zirconium is a primary oxide with the chemical formula ZrO2. Normal conditions produce a white, tasteless and odorless crystal. It’s insoluble in hydrochloric and dilute sulfuric acids, water and other liquids. The chemical properties of the crystal are inactive. Its properties include high melting points, high resistivity and high refractive indices, as well as low thermal expansion coefficients. This makes it a ceramic sunscreen, ceramic insulating materials and high-temperature resistant ceramic material. It is also used as the primary raw materials for artificial drills.

How to prepare zirconia

1. Chemical Method (Alkali Metal Method)

The zircon concentration powder is added to caustic soap at high temperatures to produce sodium azirconate. The sodium zirconate, washed in concentrated hydrochloric to produce zirconium dioxide (ZH), Cl2, is then dried with a slurry of ammonia water. The zirconium oxide SH2OX is dissolved in water and then ammonia-water is added to precipitate the Zr(OH). You can burn Zr(OH1S), to get zirconia.

The precipitate can be treated with hydrochloric, or sulfuric, acid. Zr(OH4) is prepared by acid leaching followed by precipitation removal and ammonia-water. The zircon can also be added to alkaline earth metal carbonates or oxides, then calcined into calcium zirconate. Finally, it is boiled in hydrochloric to remove the impurities and obtain zirconia.

2. Electrofusion method for Zirconia preparation

Reduced desalination and zirconium enrichment are achieved by melting and reducing zircon in a electric arc. In an electric furnace, at 2700 degrees, zircon is completely decomposed, resulting in liquid ZrO2 or SiO2. At the same time SiO2 can decompose into gaseous siO2 or O2, which is also a reversible process.

Two methods are available for the preparation of stable zirconia using the electric melt method: primary melting and secondary melting. For the primary electric melting method, you need to mix zircon powder with graphite and stabilizers (usually CaCO3). Add them to an electric furnace and melt. After the ZrO2 fusion is quenched, (to promote crystalline development), and then Calcined to 1700degC is obtained stable zirconia. In the second electric melting method the zircon powder is mixed with graphite, melted in an arc furnace and quenched. Then, it is lightly burnt (around 1400degC) until mZrO2 has been obtained. The m-ZrO2 mixed in the specified proportion is added to an electric arc melting furnace, quenched, and then lightly burned (about 1400degC) to obtain m-ZrO2.

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