An inorganic-organic hybrid precursor strategy for the synthesis of zirconium diboride powders

An inorganic-organic hybrid precursor strategy was used to synthesize zirconium diboride. Firstly, a zirconium-containing polymer was synthesized by condensation polymerization of zirconium oxychloride, salicyl alcohol and acetylacetone in the presence of triethylamine at room temperature. And then the hybrid precursor was prepared via blending the zirconium-containing polymer and boric add in solution. Finally, zirconium diboride powders were obtained by pyrolyzing the hybrid precursor at high temperature. The zirconium-containing polymer was characterized by FTIR, NMR and GPC. The pyrolysis behavior of the precursor was also investigated by XRD and SEM. It was found that the zirconium-containing polymer is composed of Zr- O-Zr as the main chain and the ligands (salicyl alcohol and acetylacetone) as the side chain. It exhibits excellent solubility, and can be blended with boric acid in solution to form a hybrid precursor. Pyrolyzing the precursor above 1300 degrees C can produce zirconium diboride powders. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.