Zirconium dioxide
Names
IUPAC names
Zirconium dioxide
Zirconium(IV) oxide
Other names
Zirconia
Baddeleyite
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.013.844
EC Number
  • 215-227-2
UNII
  • InChI=1S/2O.Zr
    Key: MCMNRKCIXSYSNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • O=[Zr]=O
Properties
ZrO
2
Molar mass 123.218 g/mol
Appearance white powder
Density 5.68 g/cm3
Melting point 2,715 °C (4,919 °F; 2,988 K)
Boiling point 4,300 °C (7,770 °F; 4,570 K)
negligible
Solubility soluble in HF, and hot H2SO4
2.13
Thermochemistry
50.3 J K−1 mol−1
–1080 kJ/mol
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS07: Exclamation mark
Warning
H315, H319, H335
P261, P264, P271, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P321, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P403+P233, P405, P501
Flash point Non-flammable
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
> 8.8 g/kg (oral, rat)
Safety data sheet (SDS) MSDS
Related compounds
Other anions
 Zirconium disulfide
Other cations
 Titanium dioxide
Hafnium dioxide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Zirconium dioxide (ZrO
2), sometimes known as zirconia (not to be confused with zircon), is a white crystalline oxide of zirconium. Its most naturally occurring form, with a monoclinic crystalline structure, is the mineral baddeleyite. A dopant stabilized cubic structured zirconia, cubic zirconia, is synthesized in various colours for use as a gemstone and a diamond simulant.[1]

Production, chemical properties, occurrence

Zirconia is produced by calcining zirconium compounds, exploiting its high thermostability.[2]

Structure

Three phases are known: monoclinic below 1170 °C, tetragonal between 1170 °C and 2370 °C, and cubic above 2370 °C.[3] The trend is for higher symmetry at higher temperatures, as is usually the case. A small percentage of the oxides of calcium or yttrium stabilize in the cubic phase.[2] The very rare mineral tazheranite, (Zr,Ti,Ca)O2, is cubic. Unlike TiO2, which features six-coordinated titanium in all phases, monoclinic zirconia consists of seven-coordinated zirconium centres. This difference is attributed to the larger size of the zirconium atom relative to the titanium atom.[4]

Chemical reactions

Zirconia is chemically unreactive. It is slowly attacked by concentrated hydrofluoric acid and sulfuric acid. When heated with carbon, it converts to zirconium carbide. When heated with carbon in the presence of chlorine, it converts to zirconium(IV) chloride. This conversion is the basis for the purification of zirconium metal and is analogous to the Kroll process.

Engineering properties

Bearing balls

Zirconium dioxide is one of the most studied ceramic materials. ZrO2 adopts a monoclinic crystal structure at room temperature and transitions to tetragonal and cubic at higher temperatures. The change of volume caused by the structure transitions from tetragonal to monoclinic to cubic induces large stresses, causing it to crack upon cooling from high temperatures.[5] When the zirconia is blended with some other oxides, the tetragonal and/or cubic phases are stabilized. Effective dopants include magnesium oxide (MgO), yttrium oxide (Y2O3, yttria), calcium oxide (CaO), and cerium(III) oxide (Ce2O3).[6]

Zirconia is often more useful in its phase 'stabilized' state. Upon heating, zirconia undergoes disruptive phase changes. By adding small percentages of yttria, these phase changes are eliminated, and the resulting material has superior thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties. In some cases, the tetragonal phase can be metastable. If sufficient quantities of the metastable tetragonal phase is present, then an applied stress, magnified by the stress concentration at a crack tip, can cause the tetragonal phase to convert to monoclinic, with the associated volume expansion. This phase transformation can then put the crack into compression, retarding its growth, and enhancing the fracture toughness. This mechanism, known as transformation toughening, significantly extends the reliability and lifetime of products made with stabilized zirconia.[6][7]

The ZrO2 band gap is dependent on the phase (cubic, tetragonal, monoclinic, or amorphous) and preparation methods, with typical estimates from 5–7 eV.[8]

A special case of zirconia is that of tetragonal zirconia polycrystal, or TZP, which is indicative of polycrystalline zirconia composed of only the metastable tetragonal phase.

Uses

The main use of zirconia is in the production of hard ceramics, such as in dentistry,[9] with other uses including as a protective coating on particles of titanium dioxide pigments,[2] as a refractory material, in insulation, abrasives, and enamels.

Stabilized zirconia is used in oxygen sensors and fuel cell membranes because it has the ability to allow oxygen ions to move freely through the crystal structure at high temperatures. This high ionic conductivity (and a low electronic conductivity) makes it one of the most useful electroceramics.[2] Zirconium dioxide is also used as the solid electrolyte in electrochromic devices.

Zirconia is a precursor to the electroceramic lead zirconate titanate (PZT), which is a high-κ dielectric, which is found in myriad components.

Niche uses

The very low thermal conductivity of cubic phase of zirconia also has led to its use as a thermal barrier coating, or TBC, in jet and diesel engines to allow operation at higher temperatures.[10] Thermodynamically, the higher the operation temperature of an engine, the greater the possible efficiency. Another low-thermal-conductivity use is as a ceramic fiber insulation for crystal growth furnaces, fuel-cell stacks, and infrared heating systems.

This material is also used in dentistry in the manufacture of subframes for the construction of dental restorations such as crowns and bridges, which are then veneered with a conventional feldspathic porcelain for aesthetic reasons, or of strong, extremely durable dental prostheses constructed entirely from monolithic zirconia, with limited but constantly improving aesthetics.[11][12] Zirconia stabilized with yttria (yttrium oxide), known as yttria-stabilized zirconia, can be used as a strong base material in some full ceramic crown restorations.[12][13]

Transformation-toughened zirconia is used to make ceramic knives. Because of the hardness, ceramic-edged cutlery stays sharp longer than steel edged products.[14]

Due to its infusibility and brilliant luminosity when incandescent, it was used as an ingredient of sticks for limelight.

Zirconia has been proposed to electrolyze carbon monoxide and oxygen from the atmosphere of Mars to provide both fuel and oxidizer that could be used as a store of chemical energy for use with surface transportation on Mars. Carbon monoxide/oxygen engines have been suggested for early surface transportation use, as both carbon monoxide and oxygen can be straightforwardly produced by zirconia electrolysis without requiring use of any of the Martian water resources to obtain hydrogen, which would be needed for the production of methane or any hydrogen-based fuels.[15]

Zirconia can be used as photocatalyst[16] since its high band gap (~ 5 eV)[17] allows the generation of high-energy electrons and holes. Some studies demonstrated the activity of doped zirconia (in order to increase visible light absorption) in degrading organic compounds[18][19] and reducing Cr(VI) from wastewaters.[20]

Zirconia is also a potential high-κ dielectric material with potential applications as an insulator in transistors.

Zirconia is also employed in the deposition of optical coatings; it is a high-index material usable from the near-UV to the mid-IR, due to its low absorption in this spectral region. In such applications, it is typically deposited by PVD.[21]

In jewelry making, some watch cases are advertised as being "black zirconium oxide".[22] In 2015 Omega released a fully ZrO2 watch named "The Dark Side of The Moon"[23] with ceramic case, bezel, pushers, and clasp, advertising it as four times harder than stainless steel and therefore much more resistant to scratches during everyday use.

In gas tungsten arc welding, tungsten electrodes containing 1% zirconium oxide (a.k.a. zirconia) instead of 2% thorium have good arc starting and current capacity, and are not radioactive.[24]

Diamond simulant

Brilliant-cut cubic zirconia

Single crystals of the cubic phase of zirconia are commonly used as diamond simulant in jewellery. Like diamond, cubic zirconia has a cubic crystal structure and a high index of refraction. Visually discerning a good quality cubic zirconia gem from a diamond is difficult, and most jewellers will have a thermal conductivity tester to identify cubic zirconia by its low thermal conductivity (diamond is a very good thermal conductor). This state of zirconia is commonly called cubic zirconia, CZ, or zircon by jewellers, but the last name is not chemically accurate. Zircon is actually the mineral name for naturally occurring zirconium(IV) silicate (ZrSiO4).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wang, S. F.; Zhang, J.; Luo, D. W.; Gu, F.; Tang, D. Y.; Dong, Z. L.; Tan, G. E. B.; Que, W. X.; Zhang, T. S.; Li, S.; Kong, L. B. (2013-05-01). "Transparent ceramics: Processing, materials and applications". Progress in Solid State Chemistry. 41 (1): 20–54. doi:10.1016/j.progsolidstchem.2012.12.002. ISSN 0079-6786.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Ralph Nielsen "Zirconium and Zirconium Compounds" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2005, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. doi:10.1002/14356007.a28_543
  3. ↑ R. Stevens, 1986. Introduction to Zirconia. Magnesium Elektron Publication No 113
  4. ↑ Greenwood, N. N.; & Earnshaw, A. (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd Edn.), Oxford:Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 0-7506-3365-4
  5. ↑ Platt, P.; Frankel, P.; Gass, M.; Howells, R.; Preuss, M. (November 2014). "Finite element analysis of the tetragonal to monoclinic phase transformation during oxidation of zirconium alloys". Journal of Nuclear Materials. 454 (1–3): 290–297. Bibcode:2014JNuM..454..290P. doi:10.1016/j.jnucmat.2014.08.020.
  6. 1 2 Evans, A.G.; Cannon, R.M. (1986). "Toughening of brittle solids by martensitic transformations". Acta Metall. 34: 761. doi:10.1016/0001-6160(86)90052-0.
  7. ↑ Porter, D.L.; Evans, A.G.; Heuer, A.H. (1979). "Transformation toughening in PSZ". Acta Metall. 27: 1649. doi:10.1016/0001-6160(79)90046-4.
  8. ↑ Chang, Jane P.; You-Sheng Lin; Karen Chu (2001). "Rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition of zirconium oxide for metal–oxide–semiconductor field effect transistor application". Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B. 19 (5): 1782–1787. Bibcode:2001JVSTB..19.1782C. doi:10.1116/1.1396639.
  9. ↑ Gambogi, Joseph. "Zirconium and Hafnium Statistics and Information". USGS National Minerals Information Center. Archived from the original on 18 February 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  10. ↑ "Thermal-barrier coatings for more efficient gas-turbine engines". studylib.net. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  11. ↑ Papaspyridakos, Panos; Kunal Lal (2008). "Complete arch implant rehabilitation using subtractive rapid prototyping and porcelain fused to zirconia prosthesis: A clinical report". The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. 100 (3): 165–172. doi:10.1016/S0022-3913(08)00110-8. PMID 18762028.
  12. 1 2 Kastyl, Jaroslav; Chlup, Zdenek; Stastny, Premysl; Trunec, Martin (2020-08-17). "Machinability and properties of zirconia ceramics prepared by gelcasting method". Advances in Applied Ceramics. 119 (5–6): 252–260. Bibcode:2020AdApC.119..252K. doi:10.1080/17436753.2019.1675402. hdl:11012/181089. ISSN 1743-6753. S2CID 210795876.
  13. ↑ Shen, James, ed. (2013). Advanced ceramics for dentistry (1st ed.). Amsterdam: Elsevier/BH. p. 271. ISBN 978-0123946195.
  14. ↑ "Serrated 12cm blade Ceramic Kitchen Knives and Tools". Ceramic Kitchen Knives and Tools | Kyocera Asia-Pacific. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  15. ↑ Landis, Geoffrey A.; Linne, Diane L. (2001). "Mars Rocket Vehicle Using In Situ Propellants". Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. 38 (5): 730–35. Bibcode:2001JSpRo..38..730L. doi:10.2514/2.3739.
  16. ↑ Kohno, Yoshiumi; Tanaka, Tsunehiro; Funabiki, Takuzo; Yoshida, Satohiro (1998). "Identification and reactivity of a surface intermediate in the photoreduction of CO2 with H2 over ZrO2". Journal of the Chemical Society, Faraday Transactions. 94 (13): 1875–1880. doi:10.1039/a801055b.
  17. ↑ Gionco, Chiara; Paganini, Maria C.; Giamello, Elio; Burgess, Robertson; Di Valentin, Cristiana; Pacchioni, Gianfranco (15 January 2014). "Cerium-Doped Zirconium Dioxide, a Visible-Light-Sensitive Photoactive Material of Third Generation". The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. 5 (3): 447–451. doi:10.1021/jz402731s. hdl:2318/141649. PMID 26276590.
  18. ↑ Yuan, Quan; Liu, Yang; Li, Le-Le; Li, Zhen-Xing; Fang, Chen-Jie; Duan, Wen-Tao; Li, Xing-Guo; Yan, Chun-Hua (August 2009). "Highly ordered mesoporous titania–zirconia photocatalyst for applications in degradation of rhodamine-B and hydrogen evolution". Microporous and Mesoporous Materials. 124 (1–3): 169–178. doi:10.1016/j.micromeso.2009.05.006.
  19. ↑ Bortot Coelho, Fabrício; Gionco, Chiara; Paganini, Maria; Calza, Paola; Magnacca, Giuliana (3 April 2019). "Control of Membrane Fouling in Organics Filtration Using Ce-Doped Zirconia and Visible Light". Nanomaterials. 9 (4): 534. doi:10.3390/nano9040534. PMC 6523972. PMID 30987140.
  20. ↑ Bortot Coelho, Fabrício Eduardo; Candelario, Victor M.; Araújo, Estêvão Magno Rodrigues; Miranda, Tânia Lúcia Santos; Magnacca, Giuliana (18 April 2020). "Photocatalytic Reduction of Cr(VI) in the Presence of Humic Acid Using Immobilized Ce–ZrO2 under Visible Light". Nanomaterials. 10 (4): 779. doi:10.3390/nano10040779. ISSN 2079-4991. PMC 7221772. PMID 32325680.
  21. ↑ "Zirconium Oxide Zr02 For Optical Coating". Materion. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Omega Co-Axial Chronograph 44.25 mm". OMEGA Watches. Archived from the original on 2016-03-26. Retrieved 2016-03-27.
  23. ↑ "Speedmaster Moonwatch Dark Side Of The Moon | OMEGA". Omega. Archived from the original on 2018-02-09. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  24. ↑ "Tungsten Selection" (PDF). Arc-Zone.com. Carlsbad, California. 2009. Retrieved 2015-06-15.

Further reading

  • Green, D. J.; Hannink, R.; Swain, M. V. (1989). Transformation Toughening of Ceramics. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN 0-8493-6594-5.
  • Heuer, A.H.; Hobbs, L.W., eds. (1981). Science and Technology of Zirconia. Advances in Ceramics. Vol. 3. Columbus, OH: American Ceramic Society. p. 475.
  • Claussen, N.; Rühle, M.; Heuer, A.H., eds. (1984). Proc. 2nd Int'l Conf. on Science and Technology of Zirconia. Advances in Ceramics. Vol. 11. Columbus, OH: American Ceramic Society.
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