Different types of nanocrystalline Zr powders were produced by mechanical ball milling method.The effects of milling time on grain size and lattice strain of Zr powders were investigated using X-ray diffraction pattern(XRD).The morphology characteristics and particle size distribution of Zr powders milled for different time were checked by scanning electron microscope(SEM) and Laser particle size analyzer(LPSA), as well as the influence of ball milling on the optical radiation time of Zr/KClO₄.Results show that increasing in milling time can reduce the grain size to nanoscale(15.4 nm after ball milling for 20 h) and increase the lattice strain.After ball milling for 8h, the size distribution of Zr powders are homogeneous with an minimum average particle size of 0.8 μm and grain size of 81.7 nm.The optical radiation time of Zr powders ball milling for 8 h is 17 ms, which shortened by 32% compared with that of raw Zr powders, and the peak intensity of optical radiation increases.