Process of producing colloidal zirconia sols and powders using an ion exchange resin

A method of preparing a colloidal zirconium, oxide sol comprising

• (A) preparing a liquid mixture comprising at least one zirconium salt, at least one salt of magnesium, calcium, yttrium or cerium, and a compatible liquid vehicle;
• (B) contacting said liquid mixture with an anion exchange resin for a period of time sufficient to produce a hydrous zirconium oxide sol having a pH of at least about 5.0;
• and
• (C) recovering the hydrous zirconium oxide sol from the anion-exchange resin.

A method of preparing spherical colloidal size zirconium oxide particles comprising

• (A) preparing a liquid mixture comprising at least one zirconium salt and a compatible liquid vehicle;
• (B) contacting said liquid mixture with an anionexchange resin for a period of time sufficient to form a hydrous zirconium oxide sol having a pH of at least about 5.0;
• (C) recovering the hydrous zirconium oxide sol from the resin;
• and
• (D) drying the hydrous zirconium oxide sol of (C) and thereafter calcining the dried sol at a temperature of from about 550.degree. C. to about 1100.degree. C. to form the spherical colloidal size zirconium oxide particles wherein the zirconium oxide particles are substantially uniform particles with diameters in the range from 0.01 micron to 2.0 microns.