Zirconium silicate is a chemically stable, high-refractive-index, high-quality opacifier widely used in both traditional and emerging technologies. Over 63% of zirconium is used in the ceramics and refractory materials industries in the form of zirconium silicate and zirconium oxide. Zirconium silicate is a direct and primary raw material for the ceramics industry.
Ceramics Industry
Zirconium silicate is widely used as an opacifier and reinforcing agent in the production of various building ceramics, sanitary ceramics, daily-use ceramics, and craft ceramics. Zirconium silicate significantly improves the bonding performance between the ceramic body and glaze, and increases the hardness of the ceramic glaze.
Refractory Materials
Zirconium silicate has a high melting point, approximately 2500 degrees Celsius, and is therefore widely used in refractory materials, zirconium ramming mixes for glass kilns, castables, and spray coatings.
Glass and Enamel Industry
Zirconium silicate has found further applications in the production of emulsified glass and enamel glazes in the glass industry.
Electronics Industry
Zirconium silicate was once used in the production of color picture tubes for televisions.
Functional Applications of Nanoscale Zirconium Silicate
As a ceramic glaze additive, zirconium silicate exhibits improved whiteness, strength, wear resistance, and hydrolysis resistance with decreasing particle size within a certain range. Due to its strong hydrolysis resistance, nanoscale zirconium silicate powder can serve as a carrier for nano-functional powders in aqueous environments. Its strong oxidation resistance also makes it suitable as a surface coating agent for functional powders. Nanoscale zirconium silicate powder is a high-quality grinding media and raw material for engineering ceramics.
Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing)
In photopolymerization 3D printing technology, zirconium silicate is used as an additive to prepare silicon-based ceramic cores. Studies have shown that adding zirconium silicate can regulate the shrinkage, porosity, and strength of the core, and improve its high-temperature creep resistance.
