PREPARATION OF STABLE HYDROSOLS OF ZIRCONIUM DIOXIDE FROM ZIRCONIUM METHYLCELLOSLOVATE

A simple procedure of preparation of stable hydrosols of zirconium dio xide ZrO2 from a new compound - zirconium methylcellosolvate - at an a cid/zirconium dioxide molar concentration ratio H/Zr greater-than-or-e qual-to 0.7 was developed. The nature of the acid stabilizer (HCl or H NO3) affects the properties of the obtained sols only at high ZrO2 con centrations. With a decreasing H/Zr ratio from 3.0 to approximately 1, the optical density and viscosity of sols remain virtually unchanged, increasing with further decreases in the H/Zr ratio. This fact is att ributed to the polymerization of the primary particles of hydrated zir conium dioxide at reducing their charge below critical value. The inde pendence of the properties of the prepared sols relative to the prepar ation procedure suggests their proximity to equilibrium systems.