Abstract & Overview
A novel method for the synthesis of zirconia powder is presented in this paper. The formation of fine particles of zirconia takes place when metallic zirconium and hematite are heated in the presence of gaseous chlorine. The overall process, which can be described by the following reaction: 3 Zr(s) + 2 Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3}(s) {r_arrow} 3 ZrO{sub 2}(s) + 4 Fe(s), occurs by a mass-transport mechanism through the vapor phase between 723 and 1223 K. The vapor-mass transport among the solid species takes place by means of zirconium and iron chlorides. The fundamentals of synthesis are discussed on the basis of a detailed thermodynamic analysis of reactions involved in the process, as well as by a characterization of the solid phases formed at various temperatures at XRD and SEM examinations.