Zirconium is a rare metal with amazing corrosion resistance, high melting point, high hardness, and strength. It is widely used in aerospace, military, nuclear reaction, and atomic energy fields. The melting point of zirconium is above 1800 degrees, and the melting point of zirconium dioxide is more than 2700 degrees. Therefore, zirconium is an aerospace material, and its performance in various aspects is much superior to that of titanium.

Metal zirconium is used almost exclusively as a cladding for uranium fuel components in nuclear reactors, as well as for the manufacture of photographic flash lamps, as well as corrosion-resistant containers and pipes, particularly resistant to hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid.

Zirconium is an important alloying element of magnesium alloys, which can improve the tensile strength and processing properties of magnesium. Zirconium is also a modifier of aluminum-magnesium alloys that refines grains.

Zirconium can absorb a large number of gases such as oxygen, hydrogen, and ammonia when heated. It is an ideal getter. For example, zirconium powder is used as a deaerator in the electron tube, while zirconium wire and zirconium sheet are used as grid support and anode support. Zirconium powder can be burned in the air and can detonate detonators and or drugs. Due to its strength under high temperature and excellent corrosion resistance (especially for acetate acid), zirconium pipes and zirconium pipe fittings are ideal for fuel rods in nuclear reactors.

From the perspective of military industry, as long as one-thousandth of zirconium is added to the steel, the hardness and strength will be amazingly high. Zirconium-containing armor steel, cannon forging steel, stainless steel, and heat-resistant steel are important materials for the manufacture of armored vehicles, tanks, cannons, and bulletproof panels.

From the point of view of atomic energy and nuclear energy, zirconium has outstanding nuclear energy and is an indispensable material for the development of atomic energy industry. Large-scale nuclear power plants generally use zirconium. If they use nuclear power to generate electricity, every million kilowatts of power generation capacity will consume 20 to 25 tons of metal zirconium a year.

Advanced Refractory Metals is a leading supplier and manufacturer of a wide variety of zirconium products, including zirconium pipes, zirconium powder, zirconium rings, etc. Please visit https://www.refractorymetal.org for more information.