Zirconium & Zirconium Alloys

Zirconium is a chemical element. Its atomic number is 40. Zirconium is a high melting point metal. It's light gray. The surface of zirconium is easy to form an oxide film, which looks shiny. Zirconium is resistant to corrosion. It is soluble in hydrofluoric acid and aqua regia.

Zirconium alloys are solid solutions of zirconium or other metals. Zirconium has a very low thermal neutron absorption cross section, high hardness, ductility and corrosion resistance. The main use of zirconium alloys is in the field of nuclear technology, such as fuel rods in nuclear reactors. The typical composition of nuclear grade zirconium alloys is more than 95% zirconium and less than 2% tin, niobium, iron, chromium, nickel and other metals, which are added to improve mechanical properties and corrosion resistance.

Zirconium alloy in 300 ~ 400℃ high temperature and high pressure water and steam has good corrosion resistance, moderate mechanical properties, low atomic thermal neutron absorption cross section. Therefore, the main uses of zirconium alloys can be used as core structural materials for water-cooled nuclear reactors, such as fuel cladding, pressure tubes, supports and orifice pipes. Zirconium has excellent corrosion resistance to hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, alkali and salt. So zirconium alloys are also used to make corrosion-resistant parts and pharmaceutical devices. Zirconium has a strong affinity with oxygen, nitrogen and other gases. Zirconium and zirconium alloys are also widely used as non-evapotranspiration gasses in the electric vacuum and bulb industries. Zirconium also has excellent luminous properties, so it is used as a flash and fireworks material.