A PROCESS FOR PREPARING STABILIZED ZIRCONE HAVING A SUB-MICRON SIZE FROM ZIRCONIUM FLUOROSULPHATE, AND APPLICATIONS OF THE STABILIZED ZIRCONE THUS ABTAINED FOR CERAMIC COMPOSITIONS

摘要

Submicronic zirconia particulates containing stabilizing amounts of yttrium or cerium, well adapted for ceramics applications, are produced by (i) admixing an aqueous suspension of zirconium fluosulfate particles having a pH of from about 0 to 3 with an aqueous solution of a salt of yttrium or cerium, (ii) neutralizing the resulting mixture at a pH of at least 7, (iii) separating a mixture of zirconium/yttrium or zirconium/cerium hydroxides from the medium of neutralization, (iv) washing said mixture of hydroxides to eliminate sulfate and fluoride ions therefrom, and then (v) calcining said mixture of hydroxides.