Zirconia is often used in wear applications requiring improved fracture toughness and stiffness over alumina. Its high material cost usually warrants its usage only where alumina fails.
Axim’s zirconia (TZP) offers chemical and corrosion resistance to temperatures well above the melting point of Alumina. In its pure form crystal structure changes limit mechanical applications, however, stabilized Zirconia produced by addition of Calcium, Magnesium or Ytrium Oxides can produce very high strength, hardness and particularly toughness. In addition the material has low thermal conductivity and is an ionic conductor above 600ºC. This has lead to applications in oxygen sensors and high temperature fuel cells.
Characteristics:
Axim’s zirconia (TZP) offers chemical and corrosion resistance to temperatures well above the melting point of Alumina. In its pure form crystal structure changes limit mechanical applications, however, stabilized Zirconia produced by addition of Calcium, Magnesium or Ytrium Oxides can produce very high strength, hardness and particularly toughness. In addition the material has low thermal conductivity and is an ionic conductor above 600ºC. This has lead to applications in oxygen sensors and high temperature fuel cells.
Characteristics:
- High temperature capability up to 2400ºC
- High density
- High strength and fracture toughness
- High hardness and wear resistance
- Low thermal conductivity (20% that of Alumina)
- Excellent chemical resistance
- Ionic conductivity
Applications:
- Precision ball valve (balls and seats) Pump seals, valves and impellors
- High density grinding media
- Oxygen sensors
- Thread guides
- Fuel cell membranes
- Cutting blades
- Radio frequency heating susceptors
- Medical prostheses
- Metrology components