What is zirconium tetrachloride and It’s application?

1)Brief introduction of zirconium tetrachloride

Zirconium tetrachloride, with the molecular formula ZrCl4, also known as zirconium chloride. Zirconium tetrachloride appears as white, glossy crystals or powders, while crude zirconium tetrachloride that has not been purified appears pale yellow. Zirconium tetrachloride is prone to deliquescence and can decompose upon heating, emitting toxic chlorides and zirconium oxide smoke. Zirconium tetrachloride is soluble in cold water, soluble in some organic solvents such as ethanol and ether, and insoluble in some organic solvents such as benzene and carbon tetrachloride. Zirconium tetrachloride is a raw material used in the industrial production of zirconium metal and zirconium oxychloride. It is also used as an analytical reagent, organic synthesis catalyst, waterproofing agent, tanning agent, and used as a catalyst in pharmaceutical factories.

2)The prepartion method of zirconium tetrachloride

The crude zirconium tetrachloride contains various impurities that must be purified. The purification processes mainly include hydrogen reduction, molten salt purification, fluidized purification, etc. Among them, the hydrogen reduction method uses the different vapor pressure differences between zirconium tetrachloride and other impurities for sublimation purification, which is widely used.There are three main methods for preparing zirconium tetrachloride. One is to react zirconium carbide and chlorine gas as raw materials to obtain crude products, which are then purified; The second method is to use a mixture of zirconium dioxide, carbon, and chlorine gas as raw materials to produce crude products through reaction and then purify them; The third method is to use zircon and chlorine gas as raw materials to produce crude products through reaction and then purify them. The crude zirconium tetrachloride contains various impurities that must be purified. The purification processes mainly include hydrogen reduction, molten salt purification, fluidized purification, etc. Among them, the hydrogen reduction method uses the different vapor pressure differences between zirconium tetrachloride and other impurities for sublimation purification, which is widely used.

3）The application of zirconium tetrachloride.

The main use of zirconium tetrachloride is to produce metallic zirconium, which is called sponge zirconium due to its porous sponge like appearance. Sponge zirconium has high hardness, high melting point, and excellent corrosion resistance, and can be applied in high-tech industries such as nuclear energy, military, aerospace, etc. The market demand continues to expand, driving the continuous growth of demand for zirconium tetrachloride. In addition, zirconium tetrachloride can also be used to prepare zirconium metal compounds, as well as to produce catalysts, waterproofing agents, tanning agents, analytical reagents, pigments, and other products, which are used in fields such as electronics, metallurgy, chemical engineering, textiles, leather, and laboratories.