Introduction of Zirconia Rods

Zirconia rods are high-performance ceramic rods made from zirconium oxide (ZrO₂) with excellent resistance to high temperatures, wear, and chemical stability. Zirconia is an advanced ceramic material that has been stabilized (e.g., with the addition of yttrium oxide) to maintain stable physical and chemical properties in extreme environments. Widely used in high-temperature, corrosive, and high-wear industrial scenarios, zirconia rods are key components in many high-precision and high-reliability processes.

Features of Zirconia Rods

High-temperature resistance: zirconium oxide has a melting point of up to 2700°C, enabling it to work stably for a long time in high-temperature environments of more than 1000°C.

Excellent wear resistance: with a hardness close to 9 Mohs, it is capable of resisting the scouring of high-speed fluids or particles and prolonging its service life.

Chemical stability: excellent resistance to acids, alkalis, and corrosive media, suitable for harsh chemical environments.

Low thermal conductivity: good thermal insulation properties, reducing heat loss.

High mechanical strength: stabilized zirconia has high hardness and toughness and can withstand large mechanical stress.

Thermal shock resistance: able to withstand rapid temperature changes and suitable for frequent heating and cooling conditions.

Electrical insulation: Maintains good electrical insulation properties at high temperatures and is suitable for electronic and electrical applications.

Parameters of Zirconia Rods

Specification	Description
Material Composition	ZrO2 with stabilizers (e.g., Yttria, Magnesia)
Purity (%)	Typically 95% to 99.95%, depending on grade
Density (g/cm³)	Approximately 5.60 to 6.10 g/cm³
Flexural Strength (MPa)	Can range from 800 to 1200 MPa at room temperature
Fracture Toughness (MPa·m^½)	Around 7 to 12 MPa·m^½
Hardness (Vickers HV)	Approximately 1200 to 1400 HV
Thermal Conductivity (W/m·K)	Low, around 1.5 to 3.5 W/m·K at room temperature
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) (10^-6/K)	~10.5 at room temperature
Melting Point (°C)	Approximately 2700°C
Max Service Temperature (°C)	Up to 2200°C in oxidizing atmospheres
Chemical Resistance	Excellent resistance to acids, bases, and molten metals
Electrical Resistivity (Ω·cm)	High, >10^12 Ω·cm at room temperature
Diameter (mm)	Can range from 1 mm to 100 mm or more
Length (mm)	Can be custom-made but typically available in lengths up to several meters
Surface Finish (Ra µm)	May vary; often specified as <0.4 µm for precision applications
Tolerance (mm)	Usually ±0.1 mm for diameter, depending on size and application requirements

Applications of Zirconia Rods

High-temperature industry: heating elements, support rods and thermocouple protection tubes for high-temperature furnaces; in the aerospace field, structural components and thermal protection materials for high-temperature environments.

Electronics and semiconductor industry: as support rods or guides in high-temperature furnaces for melting and crystal growth of semiconductor materials; in the manufacture of electronic components for high-temperature sintering and heat treatment processes.

Machinery and tools industry: used as wear-resistant parts of high-precision machinery and equipment, such as bearings, guide rails, and cutting tools; used as wear-resistant guide rods and guide rollers in the textile and paper industries.

Chemical industry: for stirring rods, support rods, and reactor linings in corrosive media, as well as corrosion-resistant structural components in catalytic reactions and exhaust gas treatment.

Medical and laboratory equipment: support rods and reaction rods for high-temperature experimental equipment; in medical equipment, as high-temperature and corrosion-resistant components, such as dental tools and surgical instruments.

Energy and environmental protection: electrolyte support rods for use in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC); as high-temperature resistant structural components in solar and nuclear energy equipment.

Company Profile

RBOSCHCO is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12 years experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials.

The company has a professional technical department and Quality Supervision Department, a well-equipped laboratory, and equipped with advanced testing equipment and after-sales customer service center.

If you are looking for high-quality Zirconia Rods please feel free to contact us or click on the needed products to send an inquiry. 

Payment Term

T/T, Western Union, Paypal, Credit Card etc.

Packing and Storage

The product is in powder form and should be stored in a cool, ventilated place. Avoid inhalation when using it and keep away from open flames, heat sources, etc.

Shipment Term

By air, by sea, by express, as customers request.

FAQs of Zirconia Rods

Question 1: What are the main application areas for zirconia rods?

Answer: Zirconia rods are mainly used in applications where high strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance are required. They are commonly used in the manufacture of precision mechanical components, medical devices (e.g., dental implants), electronic components (e.g., sensors and actuators), abrasive media, and structural supports in high-temperature environments. In addition, zirconia rods are used as fuel rod casing material in nuclear reactors in some special cases.

Question 2: How hard is a zirconia rod? Does it break easily?

Answer: Zirconia rods have a very high hardness, typically 1200-1400 HV on the Vickers scale, which makes them extremely wear-resistant and suitable for use as abrasive tools or in abrasive environments. However, despite their high hardness, zirconia rods are not completely indestructible. Improper use or extreme conditions (e.g., sudden temperature changes or severe impacts) can lead to cracking or fracture. The risk of fracture can be reduced somewhat by choosing partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) or tetragonal phase zirconia (TZP), which have improved toughness and fracture resistance through the addition of stabilizers.

QUESTION 3: How heat resistant are zirconia rods?

Answer: Zirconia rods have excellent heat resistance and can withstand temperatures of up to 2200°C or more without significant physical or chemical changes. This property makes them ideal for use in high-temperature processes such as melting metals, glass, and other inorganic materials. In addition, zirconia rods exhibit good thermal shock stability and maintain structural integrity even during rapid heating and cooling cycles.

Question 4: How stable are zirconia rods in chemical environments?

Answer: Zirconia rods exhibit excellent resistance to most acid and alkali solutions and are virtually unaffected by common chemicals except hydrofluoric and phosphoric acids. This property makes zirconia rods ideal for handling corrosive substances, especially in the chemical industry. They are also suitable for use in the biomedical field, as their inert surface is less likely to react adversely with body fluids or other biological tissues.

Question 5: Are zirconia rods difficult to machine?

Answer: Zirconia rods are indeed more challenging to machine than many traditional metallic materials because they are a very hard and brittle ceramic material. This means that traditional cutting tools can wear out quickly, and the machining process requires extra care to avoid cracks or breakage. However, with advances in technology, there are now tools and techniques specifically designed to machine ceramic materials, such as diamond tools, laser cutting, and water jet cutting. For complex shapes or fine dimensions, powder metallurgy molding followed by sintering can also be used to manufacture the finished product. Therefore, although processing is difficult, efficient production is possible with the right technical means.