Zirconium Silicate - What Is It?

Zirconium Silicate Basic Information

CAS: 10101-52-7

EINECS: 233-252-7

Chemical formula: O4SiZr

Molecular weight: 183.3071

Density: 4.56g /cm3

Melting point: 2550 °C

Insoluble in water, acids.

Refractive index: 1.78-1.99

Storage condition: Room Temprature

Stability: Stable.

Specific gravity: 4.56

Color: White powder

Smell: Odorless

Zirconium Silicate Properties

With a high refractive index of 1.93-2.01 and stable chemical performance, it is a high-quality and inexpensive emulsion, which is widely used in the production of various building ceramics, sanitary ceramics, daily ceramics, first-class handicraft ceramics and so on. In the processing and production of ceramic glaze, it has a wide range of use and large application. Zirconium silicate is widely used in ceramic production, because of its good chemical stability, so it is not affected by the firing atmosphere of ceramics, and can significantly improve the glaze bonding performance of ceramics, improve the hardness of ceramic glaze. Zirconium silicate has also been further used in the production of color picture tubes in the television industry, emulsified glass in the glass industry, and enamel glazes. Zirconium silicate has a high melting point of 2500 degrees Celsius, so it is also widely used in refractories, glass kiln zirconium pounders, castables and spray coatings.

When the high performance zirconium silicate has the two conditions of whitening and stability, the zirconium silicate powder, particle morphology, particle size range, dispersion in the medium, and the application of brick or glaze after the milky segregation performance are better than conventional zirconium silicate.

The whitening effect of zirconium silicate is due to the formation of oblique zircon after ceramic sintering, which scatters the incident light wave. This scattering is generally called large particle scattering or MieScattering. According to the theoretical calculation and the actual situation of powder production, the d50 value of high-performance zirconium silicate is controlled below 1.4um and d90 is controlled below 4.0um (based on the determination value of laser particle analyzer made in Japan), which will produce the best opacification and whitening effect. In the whitening of zirconium silicate, the concentrated particle size range is very important, so it is required to achieve as narrow distribution of particles as possible in the grinding process of zirconium silicate.

Zirconium Silicate Preparation

The zircon was mixed evenly with soda ash in a certain proportion and sent to a high temperature furnace for roasting at about 1100℃. After roasting, the zircon was crushed and then sent to a purification tank. Then, the pH value was adjusted with hydrochloric acid to make it acidic.

Zirconium Silicate Application Characteristics

According to the results of nano-scale zirconium silicate used in the production of ceramics and functional materials, it has the following characteristics.

(1) As an additive for ceramic glaze, the whiteness, strength, wear resistance, hydrolysis resistance and corrosion resistance of zirconium silicate are all improved with the decrease of particle size within a certain size range, and the self-cleaning ability is enhanced, while the dosage is reduced.

(2) Nanometer zirconium silicate powder can be used as the carrier of nanometer functional powder in water environment because of its strong hydrolysis resistance. For example, the nano-energy stone prepared by Hexiang Company uses nano-scale zirconium silicate as the carrier.

(3) Nano-scale zirconium silicate can be used as surface coating agent for functional powders because of its strong oxidation resistance. For example, the red glaze of China Red Ceramics uses nano-scale zirconium silicate as the coating agent, which has a bright red color and does not fade.

(4) Nano-scale zirconium silicate powder is a high quality grinding medium and engineering ceramic raw material because of its high strength and good wear resistance.