Direct synthesis of zirconium powder by magnesium reduction

• Published in: Metals and materials international Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 527 - 532
• Main Authors: Lee, Dong-Won, Yun, Jung-Yeul, Yoon, Sung-Won, Wang, Jei-Pil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer The Korean Institute of Metals and Materials 01.05.2013; Springer Nature B.V; 대한금속·재료학회
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Engineering Thermodynamics; Evaporation; Heat and Mass Transfer; Hydrochloric acid; Machines; Magnesium; Magnetic Materials; Magnetism; Manufacturing; Materials Science; Metallic Materials; Processes; Purity; Reduction; Solid Mechanics; Stirring; Synthesis; Zirconium; 재료공학; chemical synthesis; metals; zirconium; powder processing; purification
• ISSN: 1598-9623; 2005-4149
• DOI: 10.1007/s12540-013-3022-x

The direct synthesis of zirconium powder has been conducted through an analysis of the chemical reaction between evaporated ZrCl 4 and molten magnesium over a range of reduction temperatures, concentration of hydrochloric acid, and stirring time. The observed results indicated that the purity of zirconium powder increased with increased stirring time, and Mg and MgCl 2 were removed by 10 wt% of hydrochloric acid solution. The pure zirconium powder was obtained by stirring again for 5 h using 5 wt% of hydrochloric acid solution. It was noted that the mean particle size increased when the reaction temperature was increased, and the size of the powder at 1,123 K and 1,173 K was found to be 10 μm and 15 μm, respectively. In addition, the purity of the powder was also improved with temperature, and its purity finally reached up to 99.5% at 1,250 K. Overall, pure zirconium powder was obtained after a stirring stage for 5 hours using 5 wt% of hydrochloric acid solution.