Zirconium (Zr) is a silver metal with a density of 6.52 g/cm3. Zr has a very small neutron adsorption cross-section and relatively high melting point (1855 °C or 3371 °F), making zirconium a great material for nuclear power rods. In 1990s, about 90% of zirconium produced every year is consumed by nuclear industry. However, as more and more people get familiar with Zr and its compound, more applications has been found. Zirconium metal and Zirconium alloys has advantages in specialized chemical environments - primarily acetic and hydrochloric acids. The corrosion resistance of Zirconium comes from a tightly adhered oxide that forms almost instantaneously. As a result, zirconium has been used to make electrodes components, foils, flanges bolts, tubes and rods for special applications. Zirconium products also have wide applications in medical equipment, such as zirconium implants. As Zirconium sheets has better mechanical strength under high temperature, it is also used as support and structure components for high temperature applications.
Zirconium Plate Applications:
• Used to make high temperature superconductive materials.
• Used to make electrodes components, foils, flanges bolts, tubes and rods for special applications.
• Wide applications in medical equipment, such as zirconium implants.
• Zirconium alloys are also considered to be promising materials for commercial amorphous metal, also called metallic glass. Compared with common metal materials, amorphous metal has no grain boundaries, leading to better wear resistance and hardness.