Detonation synthesis of ZrO2 by means of an ammonium nitrate-based explosive emulsion

A zirconium (IV) oxide powder was successfully synthesized from the detonation of an explosive emulsion previously mixed with zirconium sulfate tetrahydrate salt (Zr(SO4)(2)center dot 4H(2)O) as a ceramic precursor. After detonation of the energetic mixture in a detonation tank, the as-synthesized ceramic material was purified and characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy techniques, nitrogen physisorption and dynamic light scattering. The ceramic powder is made of crystalline nanosized particles exhibiting a homogeneous sphere-like morphology. An attempt to explain the oxide ceramic synthetic mechanism is discussed. The detonation synthetic route implementing high temperatures and high pressures in a short time may be seen as an encouraging method for large-scale production of nanopowder.