Main navigation BUSINESS GROUP FINANCE TALENT NEWS & STORIES MEDIA EN FR MINERALS AND MORE ZIRCONIA Zirconia is a synthetic mineral derived from zircon sand. Due to its hardness and extremely high temperature resistance, it is a valuable material in a wide range of industries and end products ranging from advanced ceramics and refractories to fake diamonds! KEY FIGURES #1 World leader for fused Zirconia for refractories #1 World leader for fused Zirconia for brake pads 2,600°C Temperature required to convert Zircon sand into fused Zirconia ZIRCONIA - AN EXTREMELY RESISTANT MATERIAL Zirconia or zirconium dioxide as it is also called—is a synthetic mineral derived from zircon sand, found in sedimentary deposits of heavy mineral sand, formed as the result of the alteration of granitic or alkaline rocks. Fused zirconia is produced from the carbothermal reduction of zircon sand which is heated in an electric arc furnace at temperatures exceeding 2,600°C. Once cooled, the resulting coarse granular material is crushed and sized to meet required specifications. Chemical zirconia is produced through the chemical reaction of caustic soda with zircon sand, followed by various chemical processes. Zirconia is a very hard material with an extremely high melting point. It is chemically stable at high temperatures, oxide ion-conductive and abrasion and corrosion resistant. These properties make it highly valuable in a broad range of industries such as refractories, investment casting, advanced ceramics, dental ceramics, brake pads, catalytic convertors,—and, in its cubic, polished form, as an inexpensive alternative to diamonds. 1 / 2 Spray-drier for stabilized zirconia at our site in Laufenburg, Germany. Fused zirconia is made from zircon also called zirconium silicate. It has the chemical formula ZrO2 PHYSICAL PROPERTIES Very high melting point Chemical stability at high temperatures Low thermal expansion compared to metals High mechanical resistance Hardness (8 – 8.5 on Mohs scale) Abrasion resistance Corrosion resistance Oxide ion conductivity (when stabilized) Chemical inertia 1 / 2 A white specimen of zirconia containing 8% Yttria. IMERYS – WORLD #1 PRODUCER OF FUSED ZIRCONIA Imerys produces high-quality fused zirconia and zirconium chemicals at state-of-the-art processing facilities in the USA, Germany and China serving an industrial client-base worldwide. Zircon sand is sourced outside the Group. Upstream, our S&T teams at our Technology Center in Villach Austria conduct extensive applications development and research into high resistance materials such as zirconium oxide. ZIRCONIA - AN ULTRA ROBUST MINERAL FOR REFRACTORIES AND METALLURGY In refractory applications, Imerys fused zirconia powders are prized for their high temperature resistance and low thermal expansion. They are used in refractory parts in the continuous casting of steel; as binders in furnace linings; in kiln furniture for glass and aluminum manufacturing; in crucibles; and in filters for foundry steel casting. In the production of zirconium and hafnium metals, Imerys high-purity, monoclinic zirconia products help lower waste material rates and boost yields. USED IN ADVANCED CERAMICS, BRAKE PADS, AEROSPACE COATINGS AND MANY OTHERS Owing to their crystalline structure and mechanical strength, Imerys fine-grade zirconia powders are the main constituents of advanced ceramic components for the manufacture of oxygen sensors, SOFC, automotive components, cutting tools, ceramic filters, tools and dies, pump, valve components and assay crucibles. Imerys zirconia powders and zirconium chemicals are used for various catalytic reactions, such as emissions control in automotive applications and the chemical industry. In friction applications such as Non Asbestos Organic or NAO brake materials, our Zirconia powders can reduce pad and rotor wear while assisting in the effectiveness of the transfer film overall enhancing NVH benefits (noise, vibration and harshness). Used as high temperature thermal plasma spray coatings in aero-engine and gas turbines, Imerys zirconia powders are valued for their high melting point, low thermal conductivity and excellent corrosion and wear resistance. Imerys zirconium chemicals such as zirconium oxychloride (ZOC), zirconium basic carbonate (ZBC), zirconium basic sulphate (ZBS), zirconium ortho sulphate (ZOS) are also key components in a variety of consumer goods such as paints, inks, paper, antiperspirants and water-proof textiles—to name a few. Our zirconia powder enhances thermal stability in brake pads With a solid industrial footprint on three continents to serve customers worldwide, Imerys is in a strong position to meet growing demand for value-added, zirconia-based specialty products and solutions. CONTACT GROUP FINANCE TALENT MEDIA Follow us © Imerys 2021 Cookies Policy Personal Data Legal Terms WE USE COOKIES Our website uses cookies to allow for a personalized experience on our website and improve your user experience. For more information about our cookies please read our Cookie preferences. Mandatory Cookies These cookies are essential to enable you to navigate our website and use its features. These cookies are session-specific and expire after your visit to the website. Performance Cookies These cookies allow us to improve the user experience & performance of our site for our visitors, by measuring website usage statistics such as visits, top pages, and traffic. 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