zirkoniumdioksidi

Zirkoniumdioksidi is the chemical compound with the formula ZrO2. It is also known as zirconia. Zirconia is a white crystalline oxide of zirconium. It is one of the most refractory of all available ceramic materials. It occurs naturally in the mineral baddeleyite.

Zirconia is a very stable compound. It has a high melting point, approximately 2715 °C. This high melting point, along with its chemical inertness, makes zirconia useful in high-temperature applications. It is resistant to corrosion and wear.

In its pure form, zirconia undergoes phase transformations upon heating and cooling. These transformations can lead to cracking. To overcome this, zirconia is often stabilized with other metal oxides, such as yttrium oxide (yttria-stabilized zirconia, YSZ) or magnesium oxide. These stabilizing oxides prevent the undesirable phase changes.

Zirconia has a wide range of applications. It is used as a refractory material in furnaces, kilns, and crucibles. In the dental field, zirconia is used for crowns, bridges, and implants due to its strength, biocompatibility, and aesthetic properties. It is also employed in the production of ceramic knives, thermal barrier coatings for jet engines, and as a gemstone in jewelry (cubic zirconia). Its electrical properties also make it suitable for oxygen sensors and solid oxide fuel cells.