Zirconium and Zirconium Compounds

Abstract

Zirconium is found in at least 37 mineral forms. Occurrence and mining of zirconium are discussed. Zirconium is a highly active metal and is resistant to corrosion by water, steam, mineral acids, alkalies, salts, etc. Zirconium is highly refractory and the ore is cracked with only strong reagents and high temperatures. Various processes to accomplish this, such as electric furnace, caustic fusion, chlorination, flurosilicate fusion, are discussed. Zirconium and hafnium always occur together in natural minerals; separations of these two metals are given Brief economic data, analytical methods and safety issues are included. There are many zirconium compounds in the form of hydrides, carbides, nitrides, oxides, halides, organometallics, chalcogenides, oxides, etc, and information is given on many of these compounds.