zirkoniumoxiden

Zirkoniumoxid, also known as zirconia, is a white crystalline oxide of zirconium. Its chemical formula is ZrO2. Zirconia is a highly refractory ceramic material, meaning it can withstand very high temperatures. It is known for its excellent hardness, fracture toughness, and resistance to corrosion and wear. Pure zirconia is white and opaque, but it can be made transparent or translucent by doping with other metal oxides.

The most common form of zirconia is monoclinic, but it can exist in other crystalline structures like tetragonal and cubic at different temperatures. Stabilized zirconia, where other oxides like yttrium oxide (Y2O3) or calcium oxide (CaO) are added, prevents the phase transformations that can lead to cracking. This stabilization is crucial for many of its applications.

Zirconia has a wide range of applications. It is extensively used in dentistry for crowns, bridges, and implants due to its strength, biocompatibility, and aesthetic qualities. In industry, it is employed as a refractory material in furnaces, as a thermal barrier coating for jet engine components, and as a component in oxygen sensors. Its high hardness also makes it suitable for cutting tools and abrasive materials. Zirconia is also investigated for its potential in solid oxide fuel cells.