Zirconium

Zirconium from VDM Metals

Zirconium convinces through its resistance to severely corrosive environments. It reliably protects process equipment and pipes in chemical plants against attack by highly concentrated acids or alkaline solutions. VDM Metals offers this high-performance material in two alloys and in customized dimensions – top quality and comprehensive service in the packet go without saying.

Self-healing corrosion protection

Zirconium owes its excellent corrosion resistance to a passivating oxide layer (ZrO2) which forms very quickly on the surface. This layer makes the material resistant to practically all organic acids and alkaline solutions as well as to mineral acids. In addition, it is self-healing when in contact with aqueous media.

Fields of application

Zirconium possesses high chemical resistance, good machining characteristics and welding behaviour and is completely recyclable. These properties make the material suitable for a wide range of applications. In chemical engineering zirconium is used for explosion-clad or solid equipment, heat exchangers, valves, fittings and piping, especially in sulfuric and hydrochloric acid applications. Other application examples include equipment for the production of hydrochloric acid, acetic acid and urea. Zirconium is less suitable for applications handling hydrofluoric acid, sulfuric acid in concentrations exceeding 70%, aqua regia, wet chlorine gas, iron(III) chloride and copper(II) chloride. Application fields include:

Acetic acid production - MONSANTO carbonylation process
Urea production (stripper)
Nitric acid applications
Sulfuric acid applications
Methionine production (cattle food additive)
Formic acid environments
Strongly alkaline environments
Hydrochloric acid, excluding ferric and cupricions
Salt solutions
Organics

Delivery forms and alloys

VDM Metals produces zirconium sheet in the grades VDM® Zr 700 and VDM® Zr 702 to your individual requirements. VDM® Zr 702 is the conventional manufacturing grade. VDM® Zr 700 has a reduced oxygen content and is used for explosion cladding due to its higher toughness. Our high-performance production facilities give us the flexibility to produce the dimensions you need:

Thicknesses of 3 to 65 mm
Widths of up to 2500 mm
Lengths of up to 8000 mm

Specifications

Our products conform to the specifications of ASTM B551 and ASME SB551. Therefore they comply with the highest requirements, even under the most demanding conditions.

Materials information and data sheets

Are you looking for other materials? Here, you will find all alloys we produce for you. You can filter our portfolio very simply by type of material, field of application and product form to obtain a quick and uncomplicated overview.

VDM Metals alloys portfolio