ISSN 1017-2548(Print)
ISSN 2234-8530(Online)
Volume 39, Number 12
JKCSEZ 39(12)
December 20, 1995 

The physico-chemical nature of the rare earth oxide which was produced by the caustic fritting of monazite was studied to furnish fundamental data that are required for its efficient use and processing. It was found that the material which was mainly constituted of light rare earths and thorium was a solid solution phase of oxide whose structure was fluorite-type face centered cubic. Its density was 6.75 g/cm3 and it had a uniform particle size distribution at around 1 ㎛. The crystallinity improved by heating to elevated temperatures, whereas the solubility in HCl decreased as the crystallinity improved. Complete dissolution in conc. HCl solution in short time (30 min.) was attained by heating to 70℃. The measurement of zeta potential showed its I.E.P. to be at pH 8.6 of the suspension.