Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
Several carboxylic acid derivatives of zirconium were investigated for their potential utility as precursors for zirconia fibers and thin films. The reactions of ZrOCl2· 8H2O and ZrCl4 with succinic acid, oxalic acid, maleic acid, benzene tetracarboxylic acid, 2-hydroxyiminopropionic acid, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, and β-alanine were performed and the thermal behavior of the products was investigated by thermal gravimetric analysis. The objective was to find preceramic compounds with low pyrolysis temperatures and physical properties suitable for materials processing.