Zirconium applications

An intresting theranostic example of zirconium application was recently presented by McDevitt et A radioimaging probe based on Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) functionalised with Zr-tagged des-ferrioxamine B [DFO] was synthesised and tested. Such constructed nanocomposite was able to deliver therapeutic and imaging radionuclide specifically to the vessels of a solid tumour and destroy it. 

Commercial-grade zirconium contains from 1 to 3% hafnium. Zirconium has a low absorption cross section for neutrons, and is therefore used for nuclear energy applications, such as for... 

Reactor-grade zirconium is essentially free of hafnium. Zircaloy(R) is an important alloy developed specifically for nuclear applications. Zirconium is exceptionally resistant to corrosion by many common acids and alkalis, by sea water, and by other agents. Alloyed with zinc, zirconium becomes magnetic at temperatures below 35oK. 

The preparation and structure determination of ferrocene marked the beginning of metallocene chemistry Metallocenes are organometallic compounds that bear cyclo pentadiemde ligands A large number are known even some m which uranium is the metal Metallocenes are not only stucturally interesting but many of them have useful applications as catalysts for industrial processes Zirconium based metallocenes for example are the most widely used catalysts for Ziegler-Natta polymerization of alkenes We 11 have more to say about them m Section 14 15... 

Other applications of zirconium tetrafluoride are in molten salt reactor experiments as a catalyst for the fluorination of chloroacetone to chlorofluoroacetone (17,18) as a catalyst for olefin polymerization (19) as a catalyst for the conversion of a mixture of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and ammonia (in the ratio of 1 1 3 3) to pyridine (20) as an inhibitor for the combustion of NH CIO (21) in rechargeable electrochemical cells (22) and in dental applications (23) (see Dentalmaterials). 

Another application is in tire oxidation of vapour mixtures in a chemical vapour transport reaction, the attempt being to coat materials with a tlrin layer of solid electrolyte. For example, a gas phase mixture consisting of the iodides of zirconium and yttrium is oxidized to form a thin layer of ytnia-stabilized zirconia on the surface of an electrode such as one of the lanthanum-snontium doped transition metal perovskites Lai j.Srj.M03 7, which can transmit oxygen as ions and electrons from an isolated volume of oxygen gas. 

Titanium dioxide used for adhesive applications should contain an inorganic coating to control polarity, improve its ease of dispersion, and improve its weather resistance. The inorganic coating (zirconium dioxide, silica, alumina) is applied in the aqueous sluny by precipitation of one or more hydrated metal oxides and by neutralization of acidic and alkaline compounds. 

Zirconium, too, is produced commercially by the Kroll process, but the van Arkel-de Boer process is also useful when it is especially important to remove all oxygen and nitrogen. In this latter method the crude zirconium is heated in an evacuated vessel with a little iodine, to a temperature of about 200° C when Zrl4 volatilizes. A tungsten or zirconium filament is simultaneously electrically heated to about 1300°C. This decomposes the Zrl4 and pure zirconium is deposited on the filament. As the deposit grows the current is steadily increased so as to maintain the temperatures. The method is applicable to many metals by judicious adjustment of the temperatures. Zirconium has a high corrosion resistance and in certain chemical plants is preferred to alternatives such as stainless... 

The wide applicability of the PK reaction is apparent in the synthesis of pyrroles, for example, 45, en route to novel chiral guanidine bases, levuglandin-derived pyrrole 46, lipoxygenase inhibitor precursors such as 47, pyrrole-containing zirconium complexesand iV-aminopyrroles 48 from 1,4-dicarbonyl compounds and hydrazine derivatives. The latter study also utilized Yb(OTf)3 and acetic acid as pyrrole-forming catalysts, in addition to pyridinium p-toluenesulfonate (PPTS). 

An example of the modular preparation of the cyclophane 3 from the substituted bipyridine 2 and a general tripeptide 1 is shown in Scheme 3-3. The host molecule 3 contains a pre-organized binding pocket. The overall basicity of such molecules also facilitates their intercalation within the lamellas of acidic zirconium phosphate, thus making this chemistry well suited for the desired application. 

In the chemical process industry molybdenum has found use as washers and bolts to patch glass-lined vessels used in sulphuric acid and acid environments where nascent hydrogen is produced. Molybdenum thermocouples and valves have also been used in sulphuric acid applications, and molybdenum alloys have been used as reactor linings in plant used for the production of n-butyl chloride by reactions involving hydrochloric and sulphuric acids at temperatures in excess of 170°C. Miscellaneous applications where molybdenum has been used include the liquid phase Zircex hydrochlorination process, the Van Arkel Iodide process for zirconium production and the Metal Hydrides process for the production of super-pure thorium from thorium iodide. 

Water The corrosion resistance of pure niobium in water and steam at elevated temperatures is not sufficient to allow its use as a canning material in water-cooled nuclear reactors. Alloys of niobium with molybdenum, titanium, vanadium and zirconium however have improved resistance and have possibilities in this application. Whilst the Nb-lOTi-lOMo alloy offers... 

It has already been indicated that the principal use for zirconium is in the field of nuclear engineering. The very nature of this application demands the lowest possible corrosion rate, and this has necessitated a great deal of investigation into the oxidation rate of zirconium, when exposed to hot water, steam and carbon dioxide. 

Zirconium alloys have been much less thoroughly studied than titanium alloys. The main application of interest has been for nuclear reactor components where good corrosion resistance combined with a low neutron capture cross-section has been required. Corrosion fatigue crack growth in these alloys in high temperature (260-290°C) aqueous environments typical of... 

Test method for sandwich corrosion test Recommended practice for preparing, cleaning, and evaluating corrosion test specimens Practice for aqueous corrosion testing of samples of zirconium and zirconium alloys Test method for corrosion testing of products of zirconium, hafnium and their alloys in water at 633 K or in steam at 673 K [metric] Recommended practice for conventions applicable to electrochemical measurements in corrosion testing... 

The liquid-liquid extraction (solvent extraction) process was developed about 50 years ago and has found wide application in the hydrometallurgy of rare refractory and rare earth metals. Liquid-liquid extraction is used successfully for the separation of problematic pairs of metals such as niobium and tantalum, zirconium and hafnium, cobalt and nickel etc. Moreover, liquid-liquid extraction is the only method available for the separation of rare earth group elements to obtain individual metals. 

The extraction of metals by liquid amines has been widely investigated and depends on the formation of anionic complexes of the metals in aqueous solution. Such applications are illustrated by the use of Amberlite LA.l for extraction of zirconium and hafnium from hydrochloric acid solutions, and the use of liquid amines for extraction of uranium from sulphuric acid solutions.42,43... 

Determination of cerium as cerium(IV) iodate and subsequent ignition to cerium(IV) oxide Discussion. Cerium may be determined as cerium(IV) iodate, Ce(I03)4, which is ignited to and weighed as the oxide, Ce02. Thorium (also titanium and zirconium) must, however, be first removed (see Section 11.44) the method is then applicable in the presence of relatively large quantities of lanthanides. Titrimetric methods (see Section 10.104 to Section 10.109) are generally preferred. 

Zirconium. While almost any metal in the finely divided state exhibits pyrophoric properties, a few metals when abraded emit a shower of sparks of sufficient temp to ignite hydrocarbon vapors. Cerium is the best known metal of this kind for commercial purposes, such as gas lighter flints. For military purposes Zr is the most used. It has found applications in HE and armor-piercing incendiary ammo, the lining of shaped-charge rounds, and in incendiary cluster bombs (Ref 7, pp 100-01)... 

Zirconium carbide (ZrC) is a refractory interstitial carbide with a high melting point. It is produced by CVD mostly on an experimental basis although it has some nuclear applications. Like TiC, cubic ZrC has a variable composition and forms solid solutions with oxygen and nitrogen over a wide range of composition. Its characteristics and properties are summarized in Table 9.10. 

Zirconium carbide is a highly refractory compound with excellent properties but, unlike titanium carbide, it has found only limited industrial importance except as coating for atomic-fuel particles (thoria and urania) for nuclear-fission power plants.l " ] This lack of applications may be due to its high price and difficulty in obtaining it free of impurities. 

---