Properties and Nature of Our Zirconium Oxide, Specialty Refractory Products and Engineered Ceramics

Engineering solutions for severe industrial applications
Engineering solutions
for severe
industrial applications

Zircoa produces its own Zirconium Oxide. Our comprehensive understanding of this material and its use in the production of: other ceramics and refractories, opacifiers, electronics, sensors, abrasives, catalysts, ceramic color, high temperature filler and insulation, electronic ceramics wear resistant products and zirconium metal production, provides us the opportunity to answer some of the questions frequently asked during initial inquiries.

Following your review, we encourage you to visit our Products page, or contact a Zircoa product specialist to discuss your specific needs.

Properties of Our Zirconium Oxide (Zirconia)

Zirconium Oxide is one of the most versatile advanced ceramic materials commercially available today. It resists high temperatures, corrosion, wear and impact. It is chemically inert in the presence of most substances, even at elevated temperatures. Zirconium Oxide (zirconia) also has unique electrical properties including the ability to generate an electromotive force (EMF) in the presence of an oxygen differential.

Nature of Zircoa’s Specialty Refractory Products

Zircoa designs specialty refractory products to address severe industrial applications - especially where resistance to high temperature, corrosion, and erosion are required. Zircoa specialty refractories remain chemically inert at temperatures up to 1300°C and keep their structure even above 2400°C. Zircoa specialty refractory withstand temperature changes (thermal shock) as rapid as room temperature to 1540°C in 30 seconds. They resist erosion and spalling in the presence of caustic slag and harsh alloys; they endure repeated thermal cycles from room temperature to 1300°C.

Zircoa produces specialty refractories in a variety of compositions - all partially stabilized with either calcia or magnesia. The chart below (under Specifications) lists some typical properties of Zircoa specialty refractory products.

Typical Chemical Analysis

  Magnesia Stabilized
Zirconia
Calcia Stabilized
Zirconia
Bulk Density 4.6 g/cc 4.3 g/cc
Apparent Porosity 18% 23%
Modulus of Rupture 3000 psi 3000 psi
Thermal Expansion
(DL/L/°C)10-6
- @ 600°C
- @ 1000°C
- @ 1300°C


7.0
6.0
2.5


8.0
9.5
8.0
Thermal Conductivity
- @ 800°C

1.6 W/mK

1.5 W/mK

Nature of Zircoa’s Engineered Ceramics

Zircoa engineered (technical) ceramics meet the challenges of many industrial applications that cannot be addressed with metals or other advanced ceramics. Zircoa engineered ceramics resist wear and high impact. They withstand corrosive attack by molten metal, organic solvents, caustics, and acids. They endure prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures even under severe mechanical stress.

Zircoa engineered ceramics are manufactured in a variety of specialty compositions, including 1030 (Zycron® L) and 5027 (Zycron H). Their typical properties are listed below.

Physical Properties

Property Units 1028 (a) 1876 (b)
1030 5027
Physical
RT MOR-4Pt. Bend psi 70,000 80,000 65,000 50,000
Mpa 480 550 450 350
Fracture Toughness MPa-m1/2 10.6 13 7.2 7.2
Density g/cm3 5.5 5.7 5.47 5.45
Porosity % 0 0 0 0
Crystal Size micron 100 100 - - - - - -
Monoclinic % - - - - - - - - - 55
Young‘s Modulus psi x 106 29 29 35 32
GPa 200 200 240 220
Weibull Modulus

 

12 12 10 14
Hardness - Rockwell "A" scale 83 83 83 83
             - Vickers HV10 GPa 8.04 8.46 - - - 7.46
kg/mm2 820 863 - - - 760
Thermal
CTE-RT to 600°C x10-6 per °C 9.8 10 10.2 2.4
CTE-RT to 1000°C x10-6 per °C 10.3 10.7 10.5 3.4
CTE-RT to 1300°C x10-6 per °C 10.8 11.3 10.8 6.4
T.C. @ 800°C (CALC) W/m-°K 1.88 1.99 1.87 1.86
Specific Heat @ 300° C cal/gm°C - - - - - - 0.152 0.15
Electrical
Electrical
    Resistivity @ 28°C
ohm-cm >108 1011 - - - >108
Electrical
    Resistivity @ 1000°C
ohm-cm 200 200 - - - 200
Dielectric Constant

- - -

- - - - - - - - - - - -
Dielectric Strength volts/mil - - - - - - - - - - - -
Major Chemistry
SiO2 wt% 0.1 0.1 0.14 0.1
CaO wt% 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
MgO wt% 3 3 3.15 3.3
Fe2O3 wt% 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Al2O3 wt% 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
TiO2 wt% 0.05 0.05 0.05 0.1

a. Zycron L    b. Zycron H