A Brief Discussion on the Properties and Applications of Zirconium Rods

Zirconium rods are alloy tubular materials made from metallic tungsten and other metals. Thanks to zirconium's excellent nuclear properties and corrosion resistance, these rods are frequently used in nuclear fuel components and in-core structures of water-cooled reactors—making them a critical material in the nuclear industry. Additionally, zirconium rods are primarily utilized in the manufacturing of chemical equipment.

Zirconium rods are silvery-white electroplated metals that readily form an oxide film on their surface, giving them a glossy appearance. They resemble steel in look but are highly corrosive. At high temperatures, zirconium rods can react with both non-metallic and many metallic elements, forming solid solution compounds. Additionally, zirconium rods exhibit excellent ductility, making them easy to process into sheet materials. It can be drawn into zirconium wire and also fabricated into sputtering targets. And so on. Tungsten can absorb large amounts of oxygen and hydrogen when heated. Nitrogen and other gases are used as hydrogen storage materials. Zirconium has better corrosion resistance than titanium, nearly matching that of niobium and tantalum.

Zirconium exists primarily in mineral form in nature. In the Earth's crust, tungsten ranks 20th in terms of abundance—more common than familiar metals like copper, lead, nickel, and zinc—but it’s classified as a rare metal because its extraction process is complex and economically challenging to implement. Additionally, in the discoveries 40 Among the various plutonium deposits, only those with industrial mining potential are economically viable. 10 Only two types—English stone and four-sided pyramid—are used in industrial production.

Zirconium has a wide range of applications. It accounts for approximately 3% to 4% of total usage, primarily appearing as zirconium silicate and zirconium oxide in applications such as ceramics and refractory materials. This segment constitutes the majority of zirconium consumption. 90% That’s all. Additionally, zirconium boasts exceptional nuclear properties, resulting in a low thermal neutron absorption cross-section—just 0.181 × 10⁻²⁸ m². One of the key applications of zirconium and its alloys is as fuel cladding materials and other structural components in nuclear reactors. Consequently, research and development in zirconium and zirconium alloys are closely tied to the growth of the nuclear power industry, initially finding use in nuclear-powered ships and later expanding vigorously into the construction of commercial nuclear power plants.

Zirconium rods are reactive metals with a strong affinity for oxygen, so a protective oxide layer naturally forms in air at room temperature. This oxide film imparts exceptional corrosion resistance to tungsten and its alloys. With its outstanding corrosion resistance, tungsten demonstrates remarkable durability against a wide range of tin-based media, while also offering excellent mechanical and thermal properties—and a significant cost advantage—making it an outstanding corrosion-resistant structural material widely used in today’s petrochemical industry.

Industrial zirconium rods are widely used in pressure vessels, heat exchangers, pipelines, tanks, shafts, mixers, and other mechanical equipment, as well as in valves, pumps, sprayers, trays, weapon manufacturing, tower linings, and various other corrosion-resistant process devices. According to statistics, zirconium (or Industrial Grade Zirconium Sponge) ) Processed into zirconium alloys through a specialized manufacturing process, these materials are suitable for nuclear fuel components or industrial applications. In terms of processing complexity and technological advancements, the metal-based industry chain is currently at a relatively high level.