Fabrication of calcium zirconate fibers by the sol–gel method

Abstract

A new kind of polycrystalline oxide fiber, calcium zirconate (CaZrO3), was fabricated by the sol–gel method without using any metal alkoxides. The starting materials for the spinnable sol of precursors were polyacetylacetonatozirconium, calcium nitrate tetrahydrate and citric acid. The evolutions from precursor fibers to crystalline fibers were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), thermal gravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), and scanning electron microscopy. The characteristic peaks of CaZrO3 phase were observed after heat treatment at 700°C, and the relative intensity of the peaks became sharper with increasing temperature. The high temperature performance of the fibers was investigated by using oxygen coal gas flame, and the results indicated that the fibers possess excellent thermostability.