Zirconium easily absorbs hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen; zirconium has a strong affinity for oxygen. Oxygen dissolved in zirconium at 1000°C can significantly increase its volume. The surface of zirconium easily forms an oxide film and is shiny, so its appearance is similar to steel. It is corrosion-resistant, but soluble in hydrofluoric acid and aqua regia. At high temperatures, it can react with non-metallic elements and many metallic elements to form solid solutions. Zirconium has good plasticity and is easy to be processed into plates, wires, etc. Zirconium can absorb a large amount of oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and other gases when heated, and can be used as a hydrogen storage material. The corrosion resistance of zirconium is better than titanium and close to niobium and tantalum. Zirconium and hafnium are two metals with similar chemical properties that grow together and contain radioactive substances.

PRODUCT USE

industrial use

getter

Zirconium, like lithium and titanium, can strongly absorb nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen and other gases. This characteristic of zirconium has been widely used. For example, in the electric vacuum industry, zirconium powder is widely used to coat the anodes and other heated parts of electric vacuum components and instruments on the surface to absorb the residual gas in the vacuum tube and create a high vacuum. of electronic tubes and other electric vacuum instruments, thereby improving their quality and extending their service life.

metallurgy

Zirconium can also be used as a "vitamin" in the metallurgical industry, exerting its powerful deoxidation, nitrogen removal, and sulfur removal effects. Zirconium-containing zinc-magnesium alloy is light and resistant to high temperatures. Its strength is twice that of ordinary magnesium alloy and can be used in the manufacture of jet engine components.

In addition, zirconium powder is characterized by low ignition point and fast burning speed, so it can be used as the initiating explosive in detonators. This advanced detonator can explode even under water. Zirconium powder plus oxidant. This is like adding fuel to a fire. It burns with bright light and is a good material for making tracer bombs and illumination bombs.

Zirconium alloy

Zirconium alloy is a non-ferrous alloy composed of zirconium as a matrix and adding other elements. The main alloying elements are tin, niobium, iron, etc. In addition, zirconium has excellent corrosion resistance to a variety of acids, alkalis and salts, and has a strong affinity with gases such as oxygen and nitrogen. Therefore, zirconium alloys are also used to manufacture corrosion-resistant parts and pharmaceutical machinery parts. They are also used in the electric vacuum and light bulb industries. It is widely used as a non-evaporable getter.

military use

From a military perspective, as long as one thousandth of zirconium is added to steel, the hardness and strength will be amazingly improved. Zirconium-containing armor steel, cannon forging steel, stainless steel and heat-resistant steel are important materials for manufacturing weapons such as armored vehicles, tanks, cannons and ballistic plates.