Zirconium  Manufacturers, Traders, Suppliers

As a shiny, steel-grey metal, zirconium is relatively ductile and soft in its high-purity form and its electrical and thermal conductivity is rather low. This element was discovered in 1789 by Martin H. Klaproth, German chemist in Berlin (1743-1817). After examining a sample of the Ceylon mineral zirconium, he produced extremely contaminated zirconium dioxide. The name of zirconium is derived from the mineral name. The concentrated zirconium is resistant in water and air. If it is pulverized, zirconium can ignite through impact or impact as well as friction. When heated above 100 degrees Celsius, the zirconium powder ignites and is burned to zirconium oxide. These fires cannot be extinguished with water or carbon dioxide foam, but only with salt or sand. If the zirconium powder burns in pure oxygen, the highest temperature for metal fires (about 4660 degrees Celsius) is reached. As zirconium is very corrosion resistant, it is used in the construction of chemical plants such as pumps, stirrers or valves. Within electronics zirconium is required for the production of special vacuum tubes (X-ray technology). Special zirconium alloys are also used for surgical instruments, for example. Zirconium compounds such as zirconium silicate or oxide are used, for example, for the impregnation of a wide variety of textiles as well as for the production of pigments and abrasive paper.