SYNTHESIS OF SPHERICAL ZIRCONIA FINE PARTICLES BY CONTROLLED HYDROLYSIS OF ZIRCONIUM TETRABUTOXIDE IN 1-PROPANOL

Monosized spherical zirconia particles were synthesized by controlled hydrolysis of zirconium tetrabutoxide (Zr(OBu)4) in 1-propanol. The zi rconia particles are formed by two different particle growth processes , namely polymerization-controlled particle growth and agglomeration-c ontrolled particle growth. The final particle size decreases with incr easing reaction rate. Spherical zirconia particles with a geometric st andard deviation ranging from 1.10 to 1.15 were formed under the follo wing reaction conditions: [Zr(OBU)4] = 0.05-0.10 mol dm-3; [H2O]/[Zr(O Bu)4] = 4; stirring speed, 50-200 rev min-1; temperature, 25-65-degree s-C. The volume mean diameter of the prepared particles ranges from 0. 14 to 0.38 mum.