While you might have heard about advanced ceramic materials, their mind-blowing features and usage.
Zirconium oxide is another of such remarkable ceramic materials that has gained widespread usage due to applicability and strength.
Today we will explore its usage, production, and answer all the questions you might have about it.
What Is Zirconium Oxide?
Zirconium oxide, which is also known by the name zirconia, is a distinctive advanced ceramic material produced from zirconium.
It is very rich in Zirconium oxide features, which has in turn earned it usage in several industries.
Zirconium oxide is most known for its durability, toughness, and a very impressive immunity to tear and wear.
These remarkable features are all byproducts of the zirconium oxide structure.
Similarly, zirconium performs excellently even when subjected to very high temperatures.
Thus earning it usage in industries that deal with intense heat.
Also, it is usually the go-to material used in situations where other materials will melt off.
Unlike other ceramic materials, Zirconia materials have an impressive resistance to corrosion, and this isn’t all.
It can be easily remolded and reshaped to various forms.
This means it can be expanded and even contracted without breaking shape.
So yes, Zirconium oxide isn’t just any advanced ceramic material, it is most unique for its remarkable features.
This has earned its usage in various industries, including and not limited to even the health industries.
What Are The Properties Of Zirconium Oxide?
Zirconium oxide has several mind-blowing characteristics and features, which have positioned it as one of the leading advanced ceramic materials.
So, let’s check the features that have made zirconium oxide properties into a go-to material for several industries.
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Excellent Strength
The first and most impressive zirconium oxide properties are its excellent strength.
Zirconium oxide structure is a very tough, dense, and strong one.
So unlike other advanced ceramic materials, this makes it immune to breaking when subjected to lots of stress.
These particular properties and many others had made it a very suitable choice in the production of products requiring durability.
Its unique features make these products durable and last longer when subjected to heavy use.
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Excellent Wear Resistance
Another of the remarkable zirconium oxide properties is its impressive resistance to wear and tear.
You might be pleased to know that Zirconium oxide structure consists of very closely knitted molecules.
These molecules do not wear down easily, even under intense friction.
These features are very useful in the production of tools that constantly experience contacts with other surfaces.
Tools like grinding media, mechanical seals, and many others come constantly in contact with other surfaces.
A zirconia material helps prevent them from degrading or wearing.
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High-Temperature Resistance
You might be pleased to know that a Zirconia material is also best friends with extreme temperatures.
The zirconium oxide structure stays usable and potent when subjected to intense heat, unlike other materials.
It won’t melt, be deformed or reduce in value.
Industries like the aerospace, automotive, and many others that deal with heat mostly adopt it due to this remarkable feature.
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Poor Heat Conductivity
Zirconium oxide isn’t exactly great when it comes to conducting heat.
What does this mean?
It means that the Zirconium oxide structure doesn’t seamlessly transfer thermal energy.
So, in situations where there is a need for heat resistance, zirconium oxide is so in use.
The zirconium oxide structure helps to keep the heat concentrated in a single place.
Making them a very indispensable material in heat shields, and even some cooking utensils.
Similarly, this feature helps to protect materials that are a bit sensitive from extreme temperatures.
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Excellent Resistance To Chemicals
A zirconia material is typically very resistant to damages from harsh chemical environments.
When exposed to materials like bases, acids, and even salts, they maintain their rigidity and uniqueness.
This property makes them widely used in in powerplants, chemical processing plants and as well as in for medical tools.
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Biocompatibility
Many advanced ceramic materials can prove a bit contaminative when they come in contact with the human body.
Many of them aren’t necessarily compatible with the human body.
However, Zirconium oxide champions them as it is biocompatible.
What does this mean?
Biocompatibility is another zirconium oxide property that means it is absolutely safe for usage in the human body
It doesn’t transfer dangerous components to the human body when in contact.
This feature had made it a go-to material in the health sector, especially for usage like artificial joints, etc…
What Are The Applications Of Zirconium Oxide?
Due to the remarkable and unique zirconium oxide properties, it has gained widespread usage in several industries and sectors.
Its exceptional toughness, durability, and several other unique components make it an indispensable material in several production and non-production sectors.
Let’s take a look at some of the industries where zirconia material is thriving the most.
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The Aerospace Industry
The aerospace sector is one of those sectors that deals with extreme heat and a very harsh environment.
So, naturally, materials that can perform well under extreme temperature conditions are really needed here.
Here, zirconium oxide structure is used for coating thermal barriers, especially for jet engines.
This helps to protect the turbine blades from extreme heat that is often gotten during the course of operation.
Unlike some other advanced ceramic materials that may easily break down when subjected to that kind of environment.
Zirconium oxide makes sure that these aerospace components stand and perform well under this high temperature environment.
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Medical And Dental Applications
Aside from the aerospace industry, zirconium oxide is also very widely used in the medical sector.
It is biocompatible, what does this mean?
This means that zirconium can be safely used in the human body without causing contamination or any health-related issues.
So, for activities like dental implants, artificial joints, zirconia material is a very ideal usage.
Similarly, in dentistry as well, zirconium oxide, due to its strength and somewhat tooth-like look, is so much preferred.
Due to the fact that they are durable and also resistant to wear.
It is also an ideal material for things like knee replacements and several others.
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Automotive Industry
The automotive industry also uses zirconium oxide materials due to its unique features.
A very common application of it is the oxygen gas sensors.
Zirconium oxide is used in this sensor to gauge oxygen levels, thus reducing pollutants.
Similarly, zirconium oxide structure has a very important usage in catalytic converters.
Here, it helps to convert dangerous gases into less toxic gases.
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Industrial Cutting Tools And Grinding Media
Just as we’ve reiterated earlier, zirconium oxide is very strong and durable.
This makes them widely used in producing grinding media and other tools like industrial blades.
As against metals that reduce in efficiency quite fast, zirconium oxide maintains its sharpness even after a long time.
For several other industries that also need precise cuttings, like mining, ceramic processing, and many more.
They all rely on zirconium oxide to boost its efficiency.
It is best used in producing wear-resistant materials, thus cutting the need for constant replacements.
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Electronics And Telecommunications
Zirconium has a very impressive electrical stability.
So due to its electrical insulation features and low thermal conductivity, it’s used in devices like sensors, capacitors, etc…
Similarly, in telecommunications, zirconia material is employed for fiber optic connectors, and this fosters smooth data transitions.
What Is The Connection Between Zirconium Oxide And Other Advanced Ceramic Materials?
Just as you might have realized now, zirconium oxide is in fact one of the commonly used advanced ceramic materials.
This is a result of its remarkable features and proven importance.
However, as unique as it is, it is still classified as an advanced ceramic material.
So, briefly let’s take a look at how zirconium oxide compares and links to other advanced ceramic materials.
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Strength And Toughness As Compared To Other Ceramics
Just as we’ve earlier established, zirconium oxide is very tough and strong.
So, although many advanced ceramics are renowned for being brittle, zirconium has a better fracture resistance.
So when there’s a need for durability, zirconium oxide is often the most ideal choice.
This is as compared to other materials like alumina, zirconium oxide doesn’t crack easily.
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Heat Resistance And Thermal Expansion
Just like silicon carbide, and some other materials, zirconium oxide has an excellent resistance to high temperatures.
However, unlike these other similar materials, zirconia material can better adapt to changes in temperature without losing its efficiency.
So, naturally, this makes it a better choice for usage, like aerospace engineering, where there’s a need for this feature.
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Wear Resistance And Hardness
Is zirconia material very strong?
Yes, they are.
However, materials like silicon carbide, etc.… are harder than it is.
The great thing, however, is that zirconia made up for this by being more resistant to wear.
This makes it a natural choice for use in mechanical tools, grinding media, and several others.
In Conclusion
Zirconium oxide isn’t just the usual advanced ceramic materials.
They stand out for their durability, biocompatibility and several other characteristics that make it a perfect fit for several industries.
So, yes, zirconium oxide isn’t your usual advanced ceramics materials, it’s indeed a game changer.