Chlorination kinetics of zirconia in an RF chlorine plasma tail flame

The chlorination kinetics of zirconia were studied in a single stationary particle reactor system. A plasma of pure chlorine generated by an induction torch provided both the high enthalpy field and the reacting gas. The influence on the rate of conversion of such parameters as temperature, chlorine concentration (in the presence of argon) and particle diameter and porosity were investigated. Based on experimental and theoretical studies, rate equations were developed under different rate controlling mechanisms. The chlorination of zirconia in the particle temperature range of 1 540° to 2 480°K obeyed a shrinking core reaction model. The reaction was chemically controlled below 1 950°K, and above this temperature both chemical and mass transfer resistances were important. The experimental results confirmed the theoretical analysis.