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]
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.
Zirconium dioxide is one of the most studied ceramic materials. ZrO2 adopts a monocliniccrystal 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 ZrO2band 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.
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 feldspathicporcelain 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]
Zirconia has been proposed to electrolyzecarbon 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.
Ingas 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]
Single crystals of the cubic phase of zirconia are commonly used as diamond simulantinjewellery. 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 zirconbyjewellers, but the last name is not chemically accurate. Zircon is actually the mineral name for naturally occurring zirconium(IV) silicate (ZrSiO4).
^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. ISSN0079-6786.
^ abcdRalph Nielsen "Zirconium and Zirconium Compounds" in Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 2005, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim. doi:10.1002/14356007.a28_543
^R. Stevens, 1986. Introduction to Zirconia. Magnesium Elektron Publication No 113
^Greenwood, N. N.; & Earnshaw, A. (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd Edn.), Oxford:Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN0-7506-3365-4
^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.
^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.
^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. PMID26276590.
^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. Bibcode:2009MicMM.124..169Y. doi:10.1016/j.micromeso.2009.05.006.
Green, D. J.; Hannink, R.; Swain, M. V. (1989). Transformation Toughening of Ceramics. Boca Raton: CRC Press. ISBN0-8493-6594-5.
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.
