Zirconium, a reactive metal, has a high affinity for oxygen that results in the formation of a protective oxide layer in air at room temperature. This protective oxide gives Zirconium alloys their superior corrosion resistance. The oxide layer can be enhanced through a heat treating process to attain a surface micro-hardness of approximately 480 on the Vickers scale (47 HRC). A properly formed enhanced oxide layer serves as an excellent bearing surface against a variety of materials, imparts impressive erosion resistance in high velocity systems, and can improve the corrosion resistance in certain aggressive environments.
Zirconium 702 is a commercially pure zirconium, well known for its immunity to stress corrosion cracking and its resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion. Zirconium is a reactive metal that has a high affinity for oxygen resulting in the formation of a protective oxide layer at room temperature. A heating treating process enhanced this oxide layer, which serves as an excellent bouncing surface against a variety of corrosions in certain aggressive environment. Zr 702 has very good corrosion resistance in most organic acids, excellent corrosion resistance in mineral acids, good corrosion resistance in strong alkalis and moderate mechanical strength.
Characteristics of Zirconium
High heat transfer efficiency Very low thermal conductivity or expansion Immunity to stress corrosion cracking (SCC) High strength capacity High resistance to localized (pitting and crevice) forms of corrosion Good ductility even at cryogenic temperatures Very good corrosion resistance in most organic acids Exceptional corrosion resistance in mineral acids Good corrosion resistance in strong alkalis
The following chemicals are common types that require Zirconium applications when manufacturing corrosion-resistant process equipment: Acetic Acid Formic Acid Hydrochloric Acid Melamine Mineral Acids Nitric Acid Sulfuric Acid Strong Alkalis
Zirconium Process Equipment Fabrication
Suntech Metal Equipment designs and manufactures many different styles of Zirconium process equipment as follows: Zirconium Pressure Vessel Zirconium Reactor Zirconium Column Zirconium Separator Zirconium Tank
SME-ZR-001 Zirconium R60702 Preheater for Acetic Acid Industry
More Questions?
If you need more information for Zirconium applications or fabrications of Zirconium process equipment, please contact us at Technical Solutions, Suntech Metal Equipment will provide satisfactory solutions.