Zirconium Crucible

Zirconium Crucible Material Composition

Material	Chemical Composition
	Zr+Hf	Sn	Fe	Cr	Ni	Hf	Nb
Zr 702	~99.5%	/	<0.05%	<0.05%	/	1~2.5%	/
Zr 704	~97.5%	1~2%	0.1~0.2%	0.1~0.2%	/	<4.5%	/
Zr 705	~95.5%	1~2%	<0.05%	<0.01%	/	<4.5%	2~3%
Zircaloy-2	~98%	1.2~1.7%	0.07~0.2%	0.05~0.15%	0.03~0.08%	<200ppm (for the nuclear industry)	/
Zircaloy-4	~98%	1.2~1.7%	0.07~0.2%	0.05~0.15%	<0.007%	<200ppm (for the nuclear industry)	/

Zirconium Crucible Mechanical Properties

Material	Tensile Strength, UltimateMpa (ksi)	Tensile Strength, YieldMpa (ksi)	Modulus of Elasticity Gpa (ksi)	Shear Modulus Gpa (ksi)	Elongation at Break
Zr 702	450 (65.3)	325 (47.1)	99.3 (14400)	36.2 (5250)	32%
Zr 704	530 (76.9)	360 (52.2)	99.3 (14400)	36.2 (5250)	22%
Zr 705	600 (87.0)	500 (72.5)	97.9 (14200)	34.5 (5000)	20.0%

Zirconium Crucible Production Process

• Raw Material: Select high-purity zirconium powder.
• Powder Metallurgy: Mix with binder and compact into a green billet.
• Sintering: High-temperature sintering to remove the binder and increase density.
• Heat Treatment: Anneal to relieve stress and enhance properties.
• Surface Treatment: Clean and polish the surface.
• Cutting & Customization: Cut or customize according to requirements.

Zirconium Crucible Surface Finish

Depending on the intended applications, zirconium crucible has three main surface finishes as follows:

• Black: The surface is “as swaged” or “as drawn”, retaining a coating of processing lubricants and oxides.
• Cleaned: The surface is chemically cleaned to remove all lubricants and oxides.
• Ground: The surface is centerless ground to remove all coating and to achieve precise dimensions control.

Zirconium Crucibles Safety Precautions For Use

1. After use, store the zirconium crucible in a dry place to prevent rainwater intrusion. Before use, gradually heat it to 500°C.
2. Add materials according to the crucible’s capacity, avoiding overpacking to prevent cracking from the thermal expansion of the metal.
3. When removing the metal solution, use a scoop rather than calipers. If calipers or other tools are necessary, ensure they match the shape of the crucible to prevent localized pressure that could shorten its lifespan.
4. The crucible’s service life depends on usage. Avoid direct exposure to an oxidizing flame, as this can cause oxidation of the crucible material, leading to premature wear.

Zirconium Crucible Applications

• Metal Melting: Zirconium crucibles are commonly used for melting precious metals (such as gold, silver, platinum, etc.) and metals with high melting points (such as tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, etc.) because of their good resistance to high temperatures and corrosion.
• Chemical Experiments: Zirconium crucibles are used in laboratories for high-temperature chemical reactions, especially those experiments that require resistance to strong acids and bases as well as high-temperature corrosive environments.
• Nuclear Industry: Due to the good neutron permeability of zirconium, zirconium crucibles are also used in the nuclear industry, especially in the production and handling of nuclear fuel.

Zirconium Crucible Packaging

The Zirconium Crucible is carefully placed in wooden cases or cartons with additional support from soft materials to prevent any shifting during transportation. This packaging method guarantees the integrity of the products throughout the delivery process.