Synthesis of highly stabilized zirconia sols from zirconium n-propoxide-diglycol system

Highly stable, homogeneous zirconia sols were prepared from zirconium n-pro poxide modified by diglycol (HOCH2CH2OCH2CH2OH). The interaction of diglyco l with zirconium n-propoxide was characterized by Fourier transform-infrare d (FT-IR) spectroscopy, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), thermogravimet ric/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The enol form of diglycol was observed to chelate with zirconium n-propoxide a nd then strongly restrain both hydrolysis and condensation. Further, the ef fects of preparation parameters, such as pH and zirconium n-propoxide conce ntration, were discussed in detail. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.