가열가수분해반응에 의하여 제조된 구형의 $ZrO_2$ 겔을 수열결정화시켜 순수한 $ZrO_2$ 분말과 $Y2_O_3$, CaO 등 상안정화제가 도핑된 $ZrO_2$ 분말을 합성하였다. 합성된 $ZrO_2$ 결정분말들은 평균 10nm 크기의 일차 입자들로 구성된 이차입자들이었다. 이차입자의 평균 크기는 $0.4{mu}m$였고, 수열결정화과정에서 겔의 구형 형상이 그대로 유지되었으며 일차 입자들 사이에는 약한 응집으로 존재하였다. 입자모양, 크기, 상분율, 도핑된 분율 등을 SEM, TEM, XRD, ICP로 연구하였고 구형 겔의 수열결정화기구를 논의하였다
$ZrO_2$, $Y_2O_3$-doped $ZrO_2$ and CaO-doped $ZrO_2$ powders were prepared by hydrothermal crystallizing spherical $ZrO_2$ gel which had been synthesized by thermal hydrolysis reaction. After the hydrothermal crystallization process, the formed crystallized powders sustained its original spherical shape and had the mean particle size of $0.4{mu}m$. The particles were composed of about 10nm sized primary particles. The agglomeration strength between the primary particles appears very weak considering that the spherical particles were broken into the primary particles during the pressing process. The particle shape, size, phase fraction and dopant content were analyzed and crystallization mechanism of spherical gel was discussed.
