THERMALLY DECOMPOSED ZIRCONIUM SILICATE, A PROCESS FOR ITS PRODUCTION AND ITS USE

摘要

The invention relates to thermally cracked zirconium silicate, the crystalline zirconium oxide embedded in an amorphous silica phase having a mean grain size (d50 value) in the range from 0.5 mu m to 3.0 mu m and a specific surface area (BET) in the range from 3 to 15 m<2>/g. As compared with prior thermally cracked zirconium silicates, the product according to the invention is distinguished by better suitability for the production of zirconium silicate colouring materials; further use relates to the recovery of zirconium oxide. The invention also relates to a process for preparing the thermally cracked zirconium silicate, which comprises melting of zirconium silicate in an inductive fusion furnace and cooling of a jet of melt by blowing with a gas and/or spraying with water.