ISO 23739:2021

Overview - ISO 23739:2021 for zirconium oxide powders

ISO 23739:2021 specifies standardized chemical analysis methods for zirconium oxide (zirconia) powders used as raw materials in fine ceramics (advanced ceramics). The standard defines how to prepare test samples, decompose them (by acid pressure decomposition or alkali fusion) and determine the content of major and trace elements. Key determination techniques include precipitation and gravimetric methods and inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP–OES).

Keywords: ISO 23739, zirconium oxide powders, chemical analysis, zirconia, ICP–OES, gravimetric, fine ceramics, analytical methods.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Analytes and concentration ranges: Specifies target elements and applicable mass-fraction ranges, for example:
  • Zirconium (Zr): 60%–74%
  • Aluminium (Al), Barium (Ba), Cerium (Ce), Cobalt (Co), Gadolinium (Gd), Iron (Fe): 0.01%–0.5%
  • Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg): up to 6%
  • Hafnium (Hf): 0.01%–2%
  • Other elements covered: K, Si, Na, Sr, Ti, Y
• Sample preparation: Requirements for sampling, drying and weighing to obtain representative test samples suitable for analysis.
• Decomposition methods: Two validated approaches to bring solid powder into solution:
  • Acid pressure decomposition
  • Alkali fusion
• Analytical methods:
  • Zirconium and yttrium: Determined either by precipitation & gravimetric techniques or ICP–OES
  • Al, Ba, Ca, Ce, Co, Gd, Hf, Fe, Mg, K, Si, Na, Sr, Ti: Determined by ICP–OES
• Quality controls and reporting: Includes blank tests, calibration curve procedures, number of analyses, evaluation and expression of analytical values. Annexes include interlaboratory result examples.

Practical applications and users

ISO 23739 is practical for organizations that need reliable compositional data on zirconia powders:

• Fine ceramics manufacturers - raw material acceptance and process control
• Quality control and analytical laboratories - routine testing and certification
• Suppliers of zirconia powders - product specification and batch verification
• Materials scientists and R&D teams - compositional analysis for formulation and performance studies
• Regulatory bodies and procurement teams - specification compliance and supplier evaluation

Using ISO 23739 supports consistent, comparable chemical data across labs and suppliers-essential for high-performance ceramic components (structural ceramics, thermal barrier coatings, electronic ceramics).

Related standards

Normative references cited in ISO 23739 include:

• ISO 835 - Laboratory glassware - Graduated pipettes
• ISO 3696 - Water for analytical laboratory use - Specification and test methods
• ISO 8656-1 - Refractory products - Sampling of raw materials and unshaped products - Part 1

For procurement, testing programs or laboratory method selection, reference ISO 23739:2021 to ensure standardized chemical analysis of zirconium oxide powders.