Zirconium Metal

Element Zirconium has an appearance of silvery metal, and the density is 6.52 g/cm3. In the 1990s, about 90% of zirconium produced every year is consumed by the nuclear industry as zirconium tubes, to make fuel rods. However, as more and more people get familiar with Zr and its compound, more applications have been found. Zirconium metal has relatively high mechanical strength at high temperatures and great resistance to corrosive chemicals. Typical products made of zirconium metal include tubs, rods, sheets, and foil. Since zirconium metal could withstand quite a high temperature(M.P 1800C), zirconium crucibles are widely used to melt other metals. The pure metal is also used as a lining in jet engines.

Zirconium based alloys have also been found to have some special properties. Zirconium has been used to make high-temperature superconductive alloys and Zr crystal bars are often used as the raw material for high purity zirconium metal. Zirconium alloys are also considered to be promising materials for commercial amorphous metal, also called metallic glass. Compared with common iron-based amorphous metal materials, zirconium-based alloys are much easier to make the amorphous phase.

The major end uses of zircon (ZrSiO4) are refractories, ceramic opacification and foundry sands. Zircon is also marketed as a natural gemstone used in jewelry.