Zirconium Production Upstream And Downstream Industry Chain

Zirconium products are rich and diverse, the most initial mineral form of zircon sand, after caustic soda, washing and other treatments, can generate zirconium silicate and zirconium chloride and other primary products; continue to calcine, chlorination, reduction can be made into zirconium dioxide, industrial-grade zirconium sponge, and other products; if the level of purification, separation technology reaches a certain level, it can be made into a nuclear energy-grade zirconium sponge.
Zirconium has a wide range of applications, mainly in the form of zirconium silicate, zirconium oxide used in ceramics, refractory materials and other fields. Only 3-4% of zirconium ores are processed into metallic zirconium (or zirconium sponge), which is further processed into various zirconium materials. Zirconium metal has excellent nuclear properties due to its small thermal neutron absorption cross-section, and nuclear-grade zirconium is used as a structural material for nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines and civilian power reactors, and as a casing for uranium fuel elements. Nuclear-grade zirconium can be regarded as a strategic metal of national importance and is closely related to the development of the nuclear industry.

As a reactive metal, zirconium forms an oxide film at room temperature, which gives zirconium and its alloys excellent corrosion resistance. At the same time zirconium has good mechanical and heat transfer properties, which, combined with significant cost advantages, make it an excellent corrosion resistant structural material for today's petrochemical industry.
Zirconium used in chemical acid and alkali resistant equipment, military and electronics industry is called industrial grade zirconium. From the point of view of processing difficulty, technology level and technological content, metallic zirconium and its alloy products are at the top of the industry chain.