Zirconium Bar

Zirconium bars are cylindrical bars or rods made of metal zirconium or zirconium alloys. The zirconium content in its chemical composition is generally above 95%, and common impurities include iron, chromium, nickel, etc. Zirconium rods have excellent corrosion resistance, high melting point and low thermal neutron absorption cross section, especially in high temperature and high pressure environments. They are widely used in nuclear industry, chemical industry, medical equipment and scientific research fields.

Luoyang Rare Metal Research Material Co.,Ltd provides top-quality Zirconium rods and bars at competitive prices. We have rich experience in producing high-quality zirconium material products. We can produce different grades, specifications and forms of zirconium products according to different applications of customers, such as zirconium rods, bars, wires, tubes and other products.

Zirconium Bar has many excellent characteristics:

- Excellent corrosion resistance:

Zirconium can quickly forms a dense, stable, self-healing oxide film (zirconium oxide) in air and water. This film makes it extremely resistant to a variety of acids (such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid), alkalis, molten salts and high-temperature water vapor. Its corrosion resistance is better than titanium, close to or even exceeds tantalum, niobium and precious metals, and far better than stainless steel and nickel-based alloys.

- Low thermal neutron absorption cross section:

Its thermal neutron absorption cross section is (0.18×10-28) This is one of the most important characteristics of zirconium in the nuclear industry. It is the core material of nuclear fuel assemblies and is widely used in water-cooled reactors.

-‌ High melting point‌:

The melting point of pure zirconium is 1852℃, which is suitable for high temperature environment applications. ‌

- Good biocompatibility:

Pure zirconium is non-toxic and compatible with human tissues and can be used in medical implants.

Zirconium Bar can be used many industries: 

- Nuclear industry‌

 · Nuclear fuel assembly cladding tubes (such as Zr-4 alloy rods). ‌‌

 · Control rods and reactor structural parts (pressure tubes, guide tubes, etc.). ‌‌

- Chemical equipment‌.

 · Acid-resistant reactor stirring shafts, electrolytic cell electrode rods. ‌

- Medical equipment‌.

· Dental implant bases, bone screws, etc., require biocompatibility treatment.

- Scientific research and industry‌.

· High-temperature experimental furnace components, vacuum equipment structural parts. ‌‌

Zirconium bars are usually made from "sponge zirconium" (obtained by reducing zirconium tetrachloride with magnesium or calcium) through the following main steps:

- Smelting:

Sponge zirconium (and alloying elements) are melted into ingots in a vacuum consumable arc furnace. Multiple melts may be required to ensure uniform composition and purity.

- Forging/Extrusion:

The ingot is forged into large diameter billets or extruded into bars of required size in the hot state.

- Hot rolling/cold processing:

Further rolling, stretching, rotary forging and other processes are used to process the bars to precise size and shape, and to improve their microstructure and mechanical properties.

- Heat treatment:

Annealing and other heat treatments are performed to eliminate stress, control grain size and obtain the required properties.

- Surface treatment:

Pickling, sandblasting and other methods are used to remove oxide scale and contaminants.

- Finishing and inspection:

Precision cutting, straightening, and strict size, chemical composition, mechanical properties, corrosion properties, ultrasonic flaw detection and other inspections are carried out, especially for nuclear-grade zirconium rods. The requirements are extremely stringent.

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