Zirconium(IV) silicate

Zirconium silicate, also zirconium orthosilicate, ZrSiO4, is a chemical compound, a silicate of zirconium. It occurs in nature as zircon, a silicate mineral. Powdered zirconium silicate is also known as zircon flour.

"Ultrox" redirects here. For the television character, see Alien Racers.

Zirconium(IV) silicate
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Zirconium(IV) silicate
Systematic IUPAC name
Zirconium(4+) silicate
Other names
Zircon

Zirconium(4+) orthosilicate

Zirconium(IV) orthosilicate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.030.216
EC Number
  • 233-252-7
MeSH Zircon
UNII
Properties
O4SiZr
Molar mass 183.305 g·mol−1
Appearance Colourless crystals
Density 4.56 g cm−3
Melting point 1,540 °C (2,800 °F; 1,810 K) (decomposes)
Structure
tetragonal
Thermochemistry
98.3 J/mol K
-2044 kJ/mol
Hazards
Safety data sheet MSDS
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
Flammability code 0: Will not burn. E.g. waterHealth code 1: Exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury. E.g. turpentineReactivity code 1: Normally stable, but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures. E.g. calciumSpecial hazards (white): no code
0
1
1
Flash point Non-flammable
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

Zirconium silicate is usually colorless, but impurities induce various colorations. It is insoluble in water, acids, alkali and aqua regia. Hardness is 7.5 on the Mohs scale.[1]

Production
See also: Chernobylite

Zirconium silicate occurs in nature as mineral zircon. Ore is mined from natural deposits and concentrated by various techniques. It is separated from sand by electrostatic and electromagnetic methods.

It can also be synthesized by fusion of SiO2 and ZrO2 in an arc furnace, or by reacting a zirconium salt with sodium silicate in an aqueous solution.

Uses

Zirconium silicate is used for manufacturing refractory materials for applications where resistance to corrosion by alkali materials is required. It is also used in production of some ceramics, enamels, and ceramic glazes. In enamels and glazes it serves as an opacifier. It can be also present in some cements. Another use of zirconium silicate is as beads for milling and grinding. Thin films of zirconium silicate and hafnium silicate produced by chemical vapor deposition, most often MOCVD, can be used as a high-k dielectric as a replacement for silicon dioxide in semiconductors.[2]

Zirconium silicates have also been studied for potential use in medical applications. For example, ZS-9 is a zirconium silicate that was designed specifically to trap potassium ions over other ions throughout the gastrointestinal tract.[3] It is undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of hyperkalemia.

Zirconium disilicate is used in some dental crowns because of its hardness and because it is chemically nonreactive.

Toxicity

Zirconium silicate is an abrasive irritant for skin and eyes. Chronic exposure to dust can cause pulmonary granulomas, skin inflammation, and skin granuloma.[4] However, there are no known adverse effects for normal, incidental ingestion.[5]

References
  1. P. Patnaik (2002). Handbook of inorganic chemicals. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 1002. ISBN 0-07-049439-8.
  2. Lide, David R. (1998). Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (87 ed.). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. pp. 4–96. ISBN 0-8493-0594-2.
  4. "Zirconium silicate MSDS" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 11, 2006. Retrieved June 6, 2009.
  5. "Material Safety Data Sheet" (PDF). Agsco.com. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.