Oxide phase formation in amorphous zirconium hydroxide upon mechanochemical activation

Influence of mechanical activation of amorphous zirconium hydroxide in a centrifuge-planetary mill on oxide phase formation, depending on activated medium and mechanical load, was studied by the methods of X-ray phase analysis and IR spectroscopy. It was ascertained that pulsed mechanical effect at room temperature brings about formation of nanosize metastable form of tetragonal zirconium oxide. Mechanochemical synthesis of ZrO2 occurs with intermediate formation of a stable monoclinic modification, which under synthesis conditions is transformed into a metastable tetragonal form. Stabilization of the metastable phase stems from small size of crystallites formed during mechanical crushing