Classification of Zirconium
1. Classification by Chemical Composition
1) Zr702
Zr 702 is considered a commercially pure grade of zirconium, with a zirconium content of at least 99.2%. It contains very low levels of alloying elements such as iron, oxygen, and hafnium. Zirconium is a reactive metal that has a high affinity for oxygen, resulting in the formation of a protective oxide layer in air at room temperature. This protective oxide gives Zirconium alloys their superior corrosion resistance. This oxide layer can be enhanced through a heat-treating process. 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.
| Zirc 702 | Carbon C |
Iron+Chromium FE+Cr |
Hydrogen H |
Hafnium Hf |
Nitrogen N |
Oxygen O |
Zirconium+Hafnium Zr+Hf |
| <=0.05 | <=0.2 | <=0.005 | <=4.5 | <=0.025 | <=0.16 | >=99.2 |
2) Zr704
Zr 704 is an alloyed grade of zirconium that includes small amounts of niobium (0.5%-2.5%), iron (0.2%-0.4%), and oxygen. The added elements enhance its strength while maintaining excellent corrosion resistance.
| Zirc 704 | Carbon (C) |
Iron+Chromium (FE+Cr) |
Hydrogen (H) |
Hafnium (Hf) |
Nitrogen (N) |
Niobium (NB) |
Oxygen (O) |
Zirconium+Hafnium (Zr+Hf) |
| <=0.05 | <=0.3 | <=0.005 | <=4.5 | <=0.05 | 2.0-3.0 | <=0.18 | >=95.5 |
3) Zr705
Zirconium 705 is alloyed with Niobium to increase its strength and improve its formability. Zirconium is a reactive metal that has a high affinity for oxygen, resulting in the formation of a protective oxide layer in air at room temperature. This protective oxide gives Zirconium alloys their superior corrosion resistance. This oxide layer can be enhanced through a heat-treating process. 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.
| Zirc 705 | Carbon (C) |
Iron+Chromium (FE+Cr) |
Hydrogen (H) |
Hafnium (Hf) |
Nitrogen (N) |
Niobium (NB) |
Oxygen (O) |
Zirconium+Hafnium (Zr+Hf) |
| <=0.05 | <=0.2 | <=0.005 | <=4.5 | <=0.025 | 2.0-3.0 | <=0.18 | >=95.5 |
4) Detailed information about Zirconium 702, Zirconium 704, Zirconium 705
| Property | Zr 702 | Zr 704 | Zr 705 |
| Composition |
Pure zirconium(>99.2%) |
Zirconium with Fe, Nb, and O additives |
Zirconium with 2%-3%
Nb, Fe, and O |
| Strength | Moderate | Higher than Zr 702 | Significantly higher than
Zr 702/704 |
| Corrosion
Resistance |
Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Ductility | High | Moderate to high | Lower than Zr 702,
higher than many alloys |
| Applications | Chemical, nuclear, and medical | Chemical, petrochemical
aerospace |
Nuclear, aerospace, chemical,
medical |
2. Classification by Purpose
1) Nuclear grade Zirconium
It is an important strategic metal used primarily for nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, and civilian power reactors, as well as the cladding of uranium fuel elements.
| Model No. | NZr-1 | NZr-2 | R60001 | ||
| Chemical Composition | Impurity content(≤) | Zr+Hf(≥) | - | - | - |
| Al | 0.007 | 0.0075 | 0.0075 | ||
| B | 0.00005 | 0.00005 | 0.00005 | ||
| C | 0.01 | 0.025 | 0.025 | ||
| Cd | 0.00005 | 0.00005 | 0.00005 | ||
| Cl | 0.03 | 0.08 | 0.13 | ||
| Co | 0.001 | 0.002 | 0.002 | ||
| Cr | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.02 | ||
| Cu | 0.003 | 0.003 | 0.003 | ||
| Fe | 0.06 | 0.15 | 0.15 | ||
| H | 0.0025 | 0.0125 | - | ||
| Hf | 0.008 | 0.01 | 0.01 | ||
| Mg | 0.015 | 0.06 | - | ||
| Mn | 0.0035 | 0.005 | 0.005 | ||
| Mo | 0.005 | 0.005 | 0.005 | ||
| N | 0.005 | 0.005 | 0.005 | ||
| Na | 0.015 | - | - | ||
| Ni | 0.007 | 0.007 | 0.007 | ||
| O | 0.07 | 0.14 | 0.14 | ||
| P | 0.001 | - | - | ||
| Pb | 0.005 | 0.01 | - | ||
| Si | 0.007 | 0.01 | 0.012 | ||
| Sn | 0.005 | 0.02 | - | ||
| Ti | 0.005 | 0.005 | 0.005 | ||
| U | 0.0003 | 0.0003 | 0.0003 | ||
| V | 0.005 | 0.005 | - | ||
| W | 0.005 | 0.005 | 0.005 | ||
2) Industrial grade Zirconium
Industrial zirconium is mainly used for the production - chemical corrosion resistance equipment in military and electronic industry, pipeline valve materials, special high strength and high-temperature alloy materials, electric vacuum, and lighting industry getter.
|
Grade |
Element mass fraction(≤)/% |
||||||
|
Zr+Hf |
Hf |
Fe+Cr |
C |
N |
H |
O |
|
|
Zr-1 |
≥99.2 |
4.5 |
0.2 |
0.050 |
0.025 |
0.005 |
0.10 |
|
R60700 |
≥99.2 |
4.5 |
0.2 |
0.050 |
0.025 |
0.005 |
0.10 |
|
Zr-3 |
≥99.2 |
4.5 |
0.2 |
0.050 |
0.025 |
0.005 |
0.16 |
|
R60702 |
≥99.2 |
4.5 |
- |
0.050 |
0.025 |
0.005 |
0.16 |
|
R60703 |
≥98.0 |
4.5 |
- |
- |
0.025 |
0.005 |
- |
|
R60704 |
≥97.5 |
4.5 |
0.2~0.4 |
0.050 |
0.025 |
0.005 |
0.18 |
|
R60705 |
≥95.5 |
4.5 |
0.2(max) |
0.050 |
0.025 |
0.005 |
0.18 |
|
R60706 |
≥95.5 |
4.5 |
0.2(max) |
0.050 |
0.025 |
0.005 |
0.16 |
|
R60001 |
Zirconium-based |
0.010 |
- |
0.027 |
0.0065 |
0.0025 |
0.03~0.16 |
|
R60802 |
Zirconium-based |
0.010 |
- |
0.027 |
0.0065 |
0.0025 |
0.03~0.16 |
|
R60804 |
Zirconium-based |
0.010 |
0.28~0.37 |
0.027 |
0.0065 |
0.0025 |
0.03~0.16 |
|
R60901 |
Zirconium-based |
0.010 |
- |
0.027 |
0.0080 |
0.0025 |
0.09~0.15 |
|
R60904 |
Zirconium-based |
0.005 |
- |
0.015 |
0.0065 |
0.0025 |
0.01~0.14 |
3) Firearms Grade Zirconium
It is also used in the combustion of the flame zirconium sponge, and also can be used in alloy additives and metallurgical deoxidizer, chemical industry, civil flash fireworks, and so on.
| Model No. | Chemical Composition | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zr+Hf(≥) | Impurity content(≤) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Al | B | C | Cd | Cl | Co | Cr | Cu | Fe | H | Hf | Mg | Mn | Mo | N | Na | Ni | O | P | Pb | Si | Sn | Ti | U | V | W | ||
| FZr-1 | 99.2 | - | - | 0.05 | - | 0.13 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.01 | - | - | 0.14 | - | - | 0.01 | - | - | - | - | - |