Zirconia (ZrO2) has an exceptional set of properties:

  • high hardness;
  • excellent corrosion resistance;
  • CLTE is close to steels (it is possible to assemble with metal parts);
  • highest crack resistance among ceramic materials;
  • low thermal conductivity;
  • stability in a wide range of temperatures;
  • ability to use as a solid electrolyte.

 

All these combinations make the material irreplaceable in the production of corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant and heat-resistant products for the variety of industries.

 

The main applications are:

  • bearings for pumps and compressors;
  • ceramic plungers;
  • balls for ball bearings;
  • grinding bodies;
  • elements of valves and isolation valves;
  • lining for protection from wear and corrosion;
  • sorting wheels of various grinding machinery;
  • lining for cyclones and calciners for cement plants;
  • shafts of extruders (screws), nozzles of extruders (cores);
  • crucibles, boats;
  • furniture and lining of furnaces;
  • substrates, plates;
  • products for the metallurgical industry;
  • covers and tubes of thermocouples, rods;
  • products for the glass industry;
  • products for dentistry;
  • positional and welding pins for the automotive industry;
  • substrates, plates;
  • products for the paper and printing industry;
  • drags, eyes, dies, thread guides;
  • prostheses;
  • details of oxygen sensors.

 

There are two main types of zirconia:

  • dense zirconia (ZrO2)
  • refractory zirconia (ZrO2)

 

Dense zirconia (ZrO2)

This material is used for the manufacture of responsible and mechanically loaded products, i.e. mainly as engineering and structural ceramics. The material has excellent corrosion-resistant, wear-resistant and heat-resistant properties, in addition to resistance to thermal shock. If a thermal shock is present during operation, it is recommended to use refractory materials.

 

There are several modifications of dense zirconia (ZrO2) depending on the content of the main phase and stabilizers (ZROX-Y, ZROX-Mg, ZROX-Ca, ZROX-Al).

Basic properties of the material

 

Properties Brand of material
ZROX-Y ZROX-Mg ZROX-Ca ZROX-Al
Composition ZrO2 + Y2O3 ZrO2 + MgO ZrO2 + CaO ZrO2 + Al2O3
Density, g/sm3 6,02-6,08 5,6-5,8 – 4,0-4,4
Open porosity, % 0 0 0 0
Hardness, GPa 12-13 12-13 – 14-18
Flexural strength, MPa 1000-1400 500-900 – 400-1400
Compressive strength, MPa 2000-2500 1600-1800 – 2700-3000
Thermal conductivity at 20-100°С, W/mК 2,0-2,5 2,0-2,5 – 15-30
Coefficient of linear thermal expansion at 20-1000°С, 10-6К-1 10-11 10-11 – 7,0-8,5
Maximum operating temperature 1000

(modification up to 2000)

 850 – 1500

 

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