Control of zirconia particle size by using two-emulsion precipitation technique

Zirconia powder is synthesized in two types of reverse emulsions, i.e., mac roemulsion and microemulsion. In either of the systems, two solutions of re verse emulsion, one containing Zr4+ aqueous droplets and the other aqueous ammonia droplets, with the same water/oil (w/o) ratio are prepared separate ly and mixed together to form a slurry of ZrO2 precursors. Then the precurs ors are recovered and calcined to form tetragonal ZrO2. Factors that affect the emulsion stability and particle size are investigated, including type of oil, w/o ratio, type and concentration of surfactant, concentration of a queous solutions, and mixing intensity. The difference in particle size and thus calcination temperature is significant between the zirconia crystals produced from the two different types of emulsions. Thus, coupling the macr oemulsion and microemulsion precipitation processes, the mean size of spher ical ZrO2 particles ranging from tens of nanometers to a few micrometers ca n be controlled. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. AH rights reserved.