Degussa Aktiengesellschaft

Hans Hoffmeister

Peter K Kleinschmit

Dieter Binder

Klaus Zetzmann

Roland Reuter

Thermally split zirconium silicate is produced such that the crystalline zirconium dioxide embedded in an amorphous silica phase exhibits an average grain or particle size (d.sub.50 value) in a range of 0.5 .mu.m to 3.0 .mu.m and a specific surface (BET) in a range of 3 to 15 m.sup.2 /g. The zirconium dioxide produced by this method is particularly suited for the production of zirconium silicate pigments with improved color characteristics. The thermally split zirconium silicate is also particularly well suited for processes used in the obtention of zirconium dioxide. The method of producing the thermally split zirconium silicate includes melting zirconium silicate in an induction melting furnace and cooling off a free falling stream of melt by blowing on it with a gas and/or spraying it with water.

Thermally split zirconium silicate, method of its production and use

Thermally split zirconium silicate is produced such that the crystalline zirconium dioxide embedded in an amorphous silica phase exhibits an average grain or particle size (d.sub.50 value) in a range of 0.5 .mu.m to 3.0 .mu.m and a specific surface area (BET) in a range of 3 to 15 m.sup.2 /g when the silica is removed by leaching. The zirconium dioxide produced by this method is particularly suited for the production of zirconium silicate pigments with improved color characteristics. The thermally split zirconium silicate is also particularly well suited for processes used in the obtention of zirconium dioxide. The method of producing the thermally split zirconium silicate includes melting zirconium silicate in an induction melting furnace and cooling off a free falling stream of melt by blowing on it with a gas and/or spraying it with water.

A monoclinic zirconium dioxide with an SiO.sub.2 content below 1.0% by weight is provided which is characterized by dendrite-shaped particles with an average grain size (d.sub.50 value) in a range of 0.5 .mu.m to 3.0 .mu.m and a specific surface (BET) in a range of 3 to 15 m.sup.2 /g. This zirconium dioxide is produced by thermally splitting zirconium silicate in a high-frequency- or medium-frequency induction melting furnace with sintering crust crucible, quenching the melt by blowing on a stream of melt with air and/or spraying it with water and leaching out the thermally split zirconium silicate with concentrated alkali lye at 100.degree. 200.degree. C. The zirconium dioxide of the invention provides a material with improved suitability for the production of zirconium silicate pigments of the host lattice type and inclusion type so as to provide for more color-intensive pigments.

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Gelnhausen, Germany

Hans Hoffmeister