Method of preparing zinc orthotitanate pigment

摘要

Zinc orthotitanate (Zn.sub.2 TiO.sub.4) suitable for use as a pigment for spacecraft thermal control coatings is prepared by heating a slightly zinc-deficient reaction mixture of precipitated oxalates of zinc and titanium. The reaction mixture can be formed by co-precipitation of zinc and titanium oxalates from chloride solution or by mixing separately precipitated oxalates. The mixture is first heated to 400° to 600. degree. C to remove volatiles and is then rapidly heated at 900° to 1200° C. Zinc orthotitanate produced by this method exhibits the very fine particle size needed for thermal control coatings as well as stability in a space environment.