Synthesis and characterization of zircon

Zirconia single phase materials were successfully synthesized using a new method without calcination process, Base Hot Water Treatment method (BHWT). Zirconia powder was prepared from zirconium (IV) oxychloride as a precursor compound which was reacted with calcium nitrate as a source of a stabilizer CaO and sodium alginate as a chelating agent via a sol-gel method. Dried zirconia from the reaction of the constituent components incorporated into the alkaline solution of NaOH at a temperature of 90°C for 12 hours immersion followed by 12 hours of stirring, the total processing time in the base hot water treatment was 24 hours. The results of X-ray diffraction analysis showed the formation of zirconia single phase which were obtained at the molar ratio of ingredient consisting of a starting compound, a stabilizer, a chelating agent, and a solvent, of about 20 : 0.8 : 1.4, respectively. The phase of the zirconia single phase formed was a tetragonal structure. The particle sizes of the zirconia single phase materials were ranging from 27 nm to 189 nm, as shown by scanning electron microscope (SEM). However, the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study showed the majority of particle size were 50 nm.