“…ZrO2-containing silicates are materials with important technological applications due to their high fracture toughness, excellent chemical resistance to alkaline attack and low thermal expansion (Garvie, Hannik & Pascoe, 1975;Paul, 1982;Nogami & Tomozawa, 1986;Palladino, Pirini, Beghi, Chiurlo, Cogliati & Costa, 1992). However, the production of these materials by the conventional solid-state reaction route is difficult since rather high temperatures are necessary for the reaction to be fully completed.…”