Properties of amorphous and crystal ZrCl4

By low temperature condensation of saturated at 250 deg ZrCl4 steam the amorphous ZrCl4 is prepared which has been studied radiographicaly, IR-spectroscopicaly, mass-spectrometricaly derivatographicaly and other methods. It has been found that the amorphous ZrCl4 possesses higher density as compared with the crystalline one which indicates a slight shortening of bonds in the amorphous sample. The amorphous ZrCl4 possesses also somewhat decreased evaporation rate. The mechanism of amorphous ZrCl4 formation is discussed and it is concluded that amorphous forms characterized by higher density and lower volatility can be observed in substances, in the crystal structure of which there are long chains of interbound molecules or atoms