Purchase Zirconium Semi-Finished Products

Zirconium and its alloys belong to the family of reactive metals. In 1789, chemist Martin Heinrich Klaproth discovered this element. Zirconium is primarily obtained from zircon sands (ZrSiO4) and baddeleyite (ZrO2), which are most commonly found in Australia. Only about 1% of the mined zircon is processed into metallic materials, while the majority is used in the pigment industry. The extraction of zirconium follows the same Kroll process as titanium.

Today, zirconium semi-finished products are primarily used in the nuclear and chemical industries, where the materials differ mainly by their hafnium content.

Zirconium Zr 702 (Zr 700) has excellent corrosion resistance due to its stable and firmly adhering zirconium oxide layer, a property highly valued by the chemical industry. In this case, the hafnium content plays a minor role.

In contrast, the nuclear industry requires zirconium alloys with minimal hafnium content. Zircaloy, containing less than 0.1% hafnium, is used as cladding material for fuel rods, where a low neutron absorption cross-section is required to maximize the efficiency of the uranium fuel chain reaction. Hafnium, being a neutron absorber, must be minimized.

The separation of hafnium from zirconium is challenging and complex, reflected in the material prices. Zirconium Zr700, Zr702, Zr705, and Zircaloy 2 and Zircaloy 4 are available in all semi-finished product forms.

The mechanical properties of Zr700 and Zr702 are determined by the dissolved residual gases in the metal, with oxygen playing a significant role. In other alloys, specific properties are achieved through the deliberate addition of elements such as niobium.