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Zirconium and Hafnium – Comparison – Properties

This article contains comparison of key thermal and atomic properties of zirconium and hafnium, two comparable chemical elements from the periodic table. It also contains basic descriptions and applications of both elements. Zirconium vs Hafnium.

zirconium and hafnium - comparison

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Zirconium and Hafnium – About Elements

Zirconium

Zirconium is a lustrous, grey-white, strong transition metal that resembles hafnium and, to a lesser extent, titanium. Zirconium is mainly used as a refractory and opacifier, although small amounts are used as an alloying agent for its strong resistance to corrosion. Zirconium is widely used as a cladding for nuclear reactor fuels. The desired properties of these alloys are a low neutron-capture cross-section and resistance to corrosion under normal service conditions.

Hafnium

Hafnium is a lustrous, silvery gray, tetravalent transition metal, hafnium chemically resembles zirconium and is found in many zirconium minerals. Hafnium’s large neutron capture cross-section makes it a good material for neutron absorption in control rods in nuclear power plants, but at the same time requires that it be removed from the neutron-transparent corrosion-resistant zirconium alloys used in nuclear reactors.

Zirconium in Periodic Table

Hafnium in Periodic Table

Source: www.luciteria.com

Zirconium and Hafnium – Applications

Zirconium

Most zircon is used directly in high-temperature applications. This material is refractory, hard, and resistant to chemical attack. Because of these properties, zircon finds many applications, few of which are highly publicized. Its main use is as an opacifier, conferring a white, opaque appearance to ceramic materials. Zirconium and its alloys are widely used as a cladding for nuclear reactor fuels. Zirconium alloyed with niobium or tin has excellent corrosion properties. The high corrosion resistance of zirconium alloys results from the natural formation of a dense stable oxide on the surface of the metal. This film is self healing, it continues to grow slowly at temperatures up to approximately 550 °C (1020 °F), and it remains tightly adherent. The desired property of these alloys is also a low neutron-capture cross-section. The disadvantages of zirconium are low strength properties and low heat resistance, which can be eliminated, for example, by alloying with niobium.

Hafnium

Hafnium has good neutron-absorbing properties, and hence it is used in control rods in nuclear reactors, but at the same time requires that it be removed from the neutron-transparent corrosion-resistant zirconium alloys used in nuclear reactors. While hafnium nitride is the most refractory of all the metal nitrides, hafnium carbide is the most refractory of all the binary materials. With a melting point of about 3900 °C it is one of the most refractory binary compounds known. Hafnium has been successfully alloyed with several metals including iron, titanium and niobium.

Zirconium and Hafnium – Comparison in Table

Element Zirconium Hafnium
Density 6.511 g/cm3 13.31 g/cm3
Ultimate Tensile Strength 330 MPa 480 MPa
Yield Strength 230 MPa 125 MPa
Young’s Modulus of Elasticity 88 GPa 78 GPa
Mohs Scale 5 5.5
Brinell Hardness 650 MPa 1700 MPa
Vickers Hardness 900 MPa 1700 MPa
Melting Point 1855 °C 2227 °C
Boiling Point 4377 °C 4600 °C
Thermal Conductivity 22.7 W/mK 23 W/mK
Thermal Expansion Coefficient 5.7 µm/mK 5.9 µm/mK
Specific Heat 0.27 J/g K 0.14 J/g K
Heat of Fusion 16.9 kJ/mol 24.06 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization 591 kJ/mol 575 kJ/mol