ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Effect of Zr (IV) polymerization in nitric acid solution on the evolution of hydrated zirconia particles during controlled double-jet precipitation

Maksim A. Mashkovtsev, Evgenie O. Baksheev, Maksim A. Domashenkov, Denis V. Khionin, Nickolay D. Borodin, Dmitry O. Polivoda, and Vitaliy O. Noskov

The Institute of High Temperature-Temperature Electrochemistry of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russia

E-mail: e.baksheev@ihte.ru

Received: 7 March 2025  Accepted: 27 May 2025

Abstract:

In this study, the effect of the Zr(IV) polymerization degree in a nitric acid solution on the characteristics of hydrated zirconia particles and zirconia powders was investigated. Samples of hydrated zirconia were produced via the controlled double-jet precipitation (CDJP) method. The degree of Zr (IV) polymerization in the solution was varied by modifying the NO₃/ZrO²⁺ ratio. The properties of the hydrated zirconia particles and zirconia powders formed after calcination were investigated via laser diffraction, optical and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray phase analysis, thermogravimetry and BET. The polymerization of Zr (IV) involves the formation and elongation of polymer chains consisting of Zr₄(OH)₈(NO₃)₈ tetramers. An increase in the degree of Zr (IV) polymerization leads to a decrease in the size of the crystallites and an increase in the diameter of the primary particles from 0.7 to 1.8 µm. This facilitated the formation of dense aggregates with significantly reduced macroporosity. The mechanism of particle aggregation obtained by the CDJP method from a zirconium oxynitrate solution with different degrees of Zr(IV) polymerization was established and discussed in detail. The synthesized zirconia powders under consideration hold potential for use in thermal barrier coating applications via thermal spraying techniques.

Keywords: Hydrated zirconia xerogel; Zirconia powder; Olation; Oxolation; Zirconium polymerization; Population balance method

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04160-y

Chemical Papers 79 (9) 5899–5910 (2025)