Material Properties Archivy - Page 20 of 80

Rhodium and Iridium – Comparison – Properties

2021-01-22 by Nick Connor

This article contains comparison of key thermal and atomic properties of rhodium and iridium, two comparable chemical elements from the periodic table. It also contains basic descriptions and applications of both elements. Rhodium vs Iridium.

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Rhodium and Iridium – About Elements

Rhodium

Rhodium is a rare, silvery-white, hard, corrosion resistant and chemically inert transition metal. It is a noble metal and a member of the platinum group.

Iridium

Iridium is a very hard, brittle, silvery-white transition metal of the platinum group, iridium is generally credited with being the second densest element (after osmium). It is also the most corrosion-resistant metal, even at temperatures as high as 2000 °C.

Rhodium in Periodic Table

Iridium in Periodic Table

Source: www.luciteria.com

Rhodium and Iridium – Applications

Rhodium

The element’s major use (approximately 80% of world rhodium production) is as one of the catalysts in the three-way catalytic converters in automobiles. Because rhodium metal is inert against corrosion and most aggressive chemicals, and because of its rarity, rhodium is usually alloyed with platinum or palladium and applied in high-temperature and corrosion-resistive coatings. In nuclear reactors, rhodium-based detectors are often used for incore neutron flux measuring.

Iridium

Iridium is mainly consumed by the automotive, electronic, and chemical industries. Iridium metal is employed when high corrosion resistance at high temperatures is needed, as in high-performance spark plugs, crucibles for recrystallization of semiconductors at high temperatures, and electrodes for the production of chlorine in the chloralkali process. The demand for iridium surged from 2.5 tonnes in 2009 to 10.4 tonnes in 2010, mostly because of electronics-related applications that saw a rise from 0.2 to 6 tonnes – iridium crucibles are commonly used for growing large high-quality single crystals, demand for which has increased sharply.

Rhodium and Iridium – Comparison in Table

Element	Rhodium	Iridium
Density	12.45 g/cm3	22.65 g/cm3
Ultimate Tensile Strength	950 MPa	2000 MPa
Yield Strength	N/A	N/A
Young’s Modulus of Elasticity	380 GPa	528 GPa
Mohs Scale	6	6.25
Brinell Hardness	1100 MPa	1670 MPa
Vickers Hardness	1246 MPa	1760 MPa
Melting Point	1964 °C	2410 °C
Boiling Point	3695 °C	4130 °C
Thermal Conductivity	150 W/mK	150 W/mK
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	8.2 µm/mK	6.4 µm/mK
Specific Heat	0.242 J/g K	0.13 J/g K
Heat of Fusion	21.5 kJ/mol	26.1 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization	493 kJ/mol	604 kJ/mol

Rhodium and Rhenium – Comparison – Properties

2021-01-22 by Nick Connor

This article contains comparison of key thermal and atomic properties of rhodium and rhenium, two comparable chemical elements from the periodic table. It also contains basic descriptions and applications of both elements. Rhodium vs Rhenium.

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Rhodium and Rhenium – About Elements

Rhodium

Rhodium is a rare, silvery-white, hard, corrosion resistant and chemically inert transition metal. It is a noble metal and a member of the platinum group.

Rhenium

Rhenium is a silvery-white, heavy, third-row transition metal in group 7 of the periodic table.

Rhodium in Periodic Table

Rhenium in Periodic Table

Source: www.luciteria.com

Rhodium and Rhenium – Applications

Rhodium

Rhenium

More than 80% of the global rhenium usage is in high-temperature superalloys for aircraft applications like turbine blades and engine parts. These alloys contain up to 6% rhenium, making jet engine construction the largest single use for the element. Rhenium is added to nickel-based super alloys to improve creep strength of the alloys. The remaining demand is mostly from petrochemical refining industries. Platinum-rhenium catalysts that are chiefly used in lead-free, high-octane gasoline are another major application of rhenium.

Rhodium and Rhenium – Comparison in Table

Element	Rhodium	Rhenium
Density	12.45 g/cm3	21.02 g/cm3
Ultimate Tensile Strength	950 MPa	1070 MPa
Yield Strength	N/A	290 MPa
Young’s Modulus of Elasticity	380 GPa	463 GPa
Mohs Scale	6	7
Brinell Hardness	1100 MPa	1400 MPa
Vickers Hardness	1246 MPa	2500 MPa
Melting Point	1964 °C	3180 °C
Boiling Point	3695 °C	5600 °C
Thermal Conductivity	150 W/mK	48 W/mK
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	8.2 µm/mK	6.2 µm/mK
Specific Heat	0.242 J/g K	0.13 J/g K
Heat of Fusion	21.5 kJ/mol	33.2 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization	493 kJ/mol	715 kJ/mol

Rhodium and Silver – Comparison – Properties

2021-01-22 by Nick Connor

This article contains comparison of key thermal and atomic properties of rhodium and silver, two comparable chemical elements from the periodic table. It also contains basic descriptions and applications of both elements. Rhodium vs Silver.

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Rhodium and Silver – About Elements

Rhodium

Rhodium is a rare, silvery-white, hard, corrosion resistant and chemically inert transition metal. It is a noble metal and a member of the platinum group.

Silver

Silver is a soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal. The metal is found in the Earth’s crust in the pure, free elemental form (“native silver”), as an alloy with gold and other metals, and in minerals such as argentite and chlorargyrite. Most silver is produced as a byproduct of copper, gold, lead, and zinc refining.

Rhodium in Periodic Table

Silver in Periodic Table

Source: www.luciteria.com

Rhodium and Silver – Applications

Rhodium

Silver

Silver has long been valued as a precious metal. Silver metal is used in many bullion coins, sometimes alongside gold. Silver has many important, far-reaching technological and electronic applications. It’s used in everything from cell phones, computers and semiconductors to automobiles, water-purification systems and—because it is the best conductor of heat of all elements—spacecraft solar radiation tiles. Silver is of the upmost importance in photography (where approximately 30% of the U.S. Industrial consumption goes into this application). The medical uses of silver include its use in wound dressings, creams, and as an antibiotic coating on medical devices. Wound dressings containing silver sulfadiazine or silver nanomaterials may be used on external infections.

Rhodium and Silver – Comparison in Table

Element	Rhodium	Silver
Density	12.45 g/cm3	10.49 g/cm3
Ultimate Tensile Strength	950 MPa	110 MPa
Yield Strength	N/A	45 MPa
Young’s Modulus of Elasticity	380 GPa	83 GPa
Mohs Scale	6	3.25
Brinell Hardness	1100 MPa	210 MPa
Vickers Hardness	1246 MPa	251 MPa
Melting Point	1964 °C	961.78 °C
Boiling Point	3695 °C	2162 °C
Thermal Conductivity	150 W/mK	430 W/mK
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	8.2 µm/mK	18.9 µm/mK
Specific Heat	0.242 J/g K	0.235 J/g K
Heat of Fusion	21.5 kJ/mol	11.3 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization	493 kJ/mol	250.58 kJ/mol

Rhodium and Palladium – Comparison – Properties

2021-01-22 by Nick Connor

This article contains comparison of key thermal and atomic properties of rhodium and palladium, two comparable chemical elements from the periodic table. It also contains basic descriptions and applications of both elements. Rhodium vs Palladium.

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Rhodium and Palladium – About Elements

Rhodium

Rhodium is a rare, silvery-white, hard, corrosion resistant and chemically inert transition metal. It is a noble metal and a member of the platinum group.

Palladium

Palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium and osmium form a group of elements referred to as the platinum group metals (PGMs). These have similar chemical properties, but palladium has the lowest melting point and is the least dense of them. More than half the supply of palladium and its congener platinum is used in catalytic converters.

Rhodium in Periodic Table

Palladium in Periodic Table

Source: www.luciteria.com

Rhodium and Palladium – Applications

Rhodium

Palladium

More than half the supply of palladium and its congener platinum is used in catalytic converters, which convert as much as 90% of the harmful gases in automobile exhaust into less noxious substances. Palladium is also used in electronics, dentistry, medicine, hydrogen purification, chemical applications, groundwater treatment, and jewelry. Palladium-based alloys are being extensively used in fuel cell technology applications. The metal is also employed in historic photographic printing process. Palladium has been used as a precious metal in jewelry since 1939 as an alternative to platinum in the alloys called “white gold”.

Rhodium and Palladium – Comparison in Table

Element	Rhodium	Palladium
Density	12.45 g/cm3	12.023 g/cm3
Ultimate Tensile Strength	950 MPa	135 MPa
Yield Strength	N/A	30 MPa
Young’s Modulus of Elasticity	380 GPa	121 GPa
Mohs Scale	6	4.8
Brinell Hardness	1100 MPa	320 MPa
Vickers Hardness	1246 MPa	400 MPa
Melting Point	1964 °C	1554.9 °C
Boiling Point	3695 °C	2963 °C
Thermal Conductivity	150 W/mK	72 W/mK
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	8.2 µm/mK	11.8 µm/mK
Specific Heat	0.242 J/g K	0.24 J/g K
Heat of Fusion	21.5 kJ/mol	17.6 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization	493 kJ/mol	357 kJ/mol

Rhodium and Gold – Comparison – Properties

2021-01-22 by Nick Connor

This article contains comparison of key thermal and atomic properties of rhodium and gold, two comparable chemical elements from the periodic table. It also contains basic descriptions and applications of both elements. Rhodium vs Gold.

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Rhodium and Gold – About Elements

Rhodium

Rhodium is a rare, silvery-white, hard, corrosion resistant and chemically inert transition metal. It is a noble metal and a member of the platinum group.

Gold

Gold is a bright, slightly reddish yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile metal. Gold is a transition metal and a group 11 element. It is one of the least reactive chemical elements and is solid under standard conditions. Gold is thought to have been produced in supernova nucleosynthesis, from the collision of neutron stars.

Rhodium in Periodic Table

Gold in Periodic Table

Source: www.luciteria.com

Rhodium and Gold – Applications

Rhodium

Gold

Gold is used extensively in jewellery, either in its pure form or as an alloy. About 75% of all gold produced is used in the jewelry industry. Pure gold is too soft to stand up to the stresses applied to many jewelry items. Craftsmen learned that alloying gold with other metals such as copper, silver, and platinum would increase its durability. The term ‘carat’ indicates the amount of gold present in an alloy. 24-carat is pure gold, but it is very soft. 18- and 9-carat gold alloys are commonly used because they are more durable. Gold’s high malleability, ductility, resistance to corrosion and most other chemical reactions, and conductivity of electricity have led to its continued use in corrosion resistant electrical connectors in all types of computerized devices (its chief industrial use). Gold is also used in infrared shielding, colored-glass production, gold leafing, and tooth restoration. Only 10% of the world consumption of new gold produced goes to industry, but by far the most important industrial use for new gold is in fabrication of corrosion-free electrical connectors in computers and other electrical devices.

Rhodium and Gold – Comparison in Table

Element	Rhodium	Gold
Density	12.45 g/cm3	19.3 g/cm3
Ultimate Tensile Strength	950 MPa	220 MPa
Yield Strength	N/A	205 MPa
Young’s Modulus of Elasticity	380 GPa	79 GPa
Mohs Scale	6	2.75
Brinell Hardness	1100 MPa	190 MPa
Vickers Hardness	1246 MPa	215 MPa
Melting Point	1964 °C	1064 °C
Boiling Point	3695 °C	2970 °C
Thermal Conductivity	150 W/mK	320 W/mK
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	8.2 µm/mK	14.2 µm/mK
Specific Heat	0.242 J/g K	0.128 J/g K
Heat of Fusion	21.5 kJ/mol	12.55 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization	493 kJ/mol	334.4 kJ/mol

Rhodium and Platinum – Comparison – Properties

2021-01-22 by Nick Connor

This article contains comparison of key thermal and atomic properties of rhodium and platinum, two comparable chemical elements from the periodic table. It also contains basic descriptions and applications of both elements. Rhodium vs Platinum.

rhodium and platinum - comparison

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Rhodium and Platinum – About Elements

Rhodium

Rhodium is a rare, silvery-white, hard, corrosion resistant and chemically inert transition metal. It is a noble metal and a member of the platinum group.

Platinum

Platinum is a dense, malleable, ductile, highly unreactive, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Platinum is one of the least reactive metals. It has remarkable resistance to corrosion, even at high temperatures, and is therefore considered a noble metal. Platinum is used in catalytic converters, laboratory equipment, electrical contacts and electrodes, platinum resistance thermometers, dentistry equipment, and jewelry.

Rhodium in Periodic Table

Platinum in Periodic Table

Source: www.luciteria.com

Rhodium and Platinum – Applications

Rhodium

Platinum

Platinum is primarily an industrial metal. It is a critical material for many industries and is considered a strategic metal. Platinum is used as a catalyst, platinum is mostly found in vehicle catalytic converters that reduce toxic exhaust chemicals, and also in fuel cells to increase efficiency. The most common use of platinum is as a catalyst in chemical reactions, often as platinum black. In catalytic converters, platinum allows the complete combustion of low concentrations of unburned hydrocarbons from the exhaust into carbon dioxide and water vapor. Platinum has been used in thermocouple devices that measure temperature with high accuracy. Platinum is a component in magnetic coatings for high-density hard disk drives and some of the newer optical storage systems.

Rhodium and Platinum – Comparison in Table

Element	Rhodium	Platinum
Density	12.45 g/cm3	21.09 g/cm3
Ultimate Tensile Strength	950 MPa	150 MPa
Yield Strength	N/A	70 MPa
Young’s Modulus of Elasticity	380 GPa	168 GPa
Mohs Scale	6	3.5
Brinell Hardness	1100 MPa	400 MPa
Vickers Hardness	1246 MPa	550 MPa
Melting Point	1964 °C	1772 °C
Boiling Point	3695 °C	3827 °C
Thermal Conductivity	150 W/mK	72 W/mK
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	8.2 µm/mK	8.8 µm/mK
Specific Heat	0.242 J/g K	0.13 J/g K
Heat of Fusion	21.5 kJ/mol	19.6 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization	493 kJ/mol	510 kJ/mol

Yttrium and Ytterbium – Comparison – Properties

2021-01-22 by Nick Connor

This article contains comparison of key thermal and atomic properties of yttrium and ytterbium, two comparable chemical elements from the periodic table. It also contains basic descriptions and applications of both elements. Yttrium vsYtterbium.

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Yttrium and Ytterbium – About Elements

Yttrium

Yttrium is a silvery-metallic transition metal chemically similar to the lanthanides and has often been classified as a “rare-earth element”.

Ytterbium

Because of its closed-shell electron configuration, its density and melting and boiling points differ significantly from those of most other lanthanides.

Yttrium in Periodic Table

Ytterbium in Periodic Table

Source: www.luciteria.com

Yttrium and Ytterbium – Applications

Yttrium

The most important uses of yttrium are LEDs and phosphors, particularly the red phosphors in television set cathode ray tube displays. Yttrium is also used in the production of electrodes, electrolytes, electronic filters, lasers, superconductors, various medical applications, and tracing various materials to enhance their properties. Small amounts of yttrium (0.1 to 0.2%) have been used to reduce the grain sizes of chromium, molybdenum, titanium, and zirconium. Yttrium is used to increase the strength of aluminium and magnesium alloys.

Ytterbium

Ytterbium is beginning to find a variety of uses, such as in memory devices and tuneable lasers. It can also be used as an industrial catalyst and is increasingly being used to replace other catalysts considered to be too toxic and polluting. A small amount of ytterbium is used to add strength to specific steel types. Ytterbium can also be used as a dopant to help improve the grain refinement, strength, and other mechanical properties of stainless steel.

Yttrium and Ytterbium – Comparison in Table

Element	Yttrium	Ytterbium
Density	6.511 g/cm3	6.57 g/cm3
Ultimate Tensile Strength	330 MPa	69 MPa
Yield Strength	230 MPa	66 MPa
Young’s Modulus of Elasticity	88 GPa	23.9 GPa
Mohs Scale	5	N/A
Brinell Hardness	650 MPa	340 MPa
Vickers Hardness	900 MPa	210 MPa
Melting Point	1855 °C	819 °C
Boiling Point	4377 °C	1196 °C
Thermal Conductivity	22.7 W/mK	39 W/mK
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	5.7 µm/mK	26.3 µm/mK
Specific Heat	0.27 J/g K	0.15 J/g K
Heat of Fusion	16.9 kJ/mol	7.66 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization	591 kJ/mol	128.9 kJ/mol

Zirconium and Uranium – Comparison – Properties

2021-01-22 by Nick Connor

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

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Zirconium and Uranium – 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.

Uranium

Uranium is a silvery-white metal in the actinide series of the periodic table. Uranium is weakly radioactive because all isotopes of uranium are unstable, with half-lives varying between 159,200 years and 4.5 billion years. Uranium has the highest atomic weight of the primordially occurring elements. Its density is about 70% higher than that of lead, and slightly lower than that of gold or tungsten. Uranium is commonly found at low levels (a few ppm – parts per million) in all rocks, soil, water, plants, and animals (including humans). Uranium occurs also in seawater, and can be recovered from the ocean water. Significant concentrations of uranium occur in some substances such as uraninite (the most common uranium ore), phosphate rock deposits, and other minerals.

Zirconium in Periodic Table

Uranium in Periodic Table

Source: www.luciteria.com

Zirconium and Uranium – 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.

Uranium

The main use of uranium in the civilian sector is to fuel nuclear power plants. One kilogram of uranium-235 can theoretically produce about 20 terajoules of energy, assuming complete fission; as much energy as 1.5 million kilograms (1,500 tonnes) of coal. Typical reactor may contain about 100 tonnes of enriched uranium (i.e. about 113 tonnes of uranium dioxide). This fuel is loaded within, for example, 157 fuel assemblies composed of over 45,000 fuel rods. A common fuel assembly contain energy for approximately 4 years of operation at full power. The removed fuel (spent nuclear fuel) still contains about 96% of reusable material (it must be removed due to decreasing kinf of an assembly). Before (and, occasionally, after) the discovery of radioactivity, uranium was primarily used in small amounts for yellow glass and pottery glazes, such as uranium glass. Uranium is also used by the military to power nuclear submarines and in nuclear weapons. Due to its high density, this material is found in inertial guidance systems and in gyroscopic compasses.[10] Depleted uranium is preferred over similarly dense metals due to its ability to be easily machined and cast as well as its relatively low cost. The main risk of exposure to depleted uranium is chemical poisoning by uranium oxide rather than radioactivity (uranium being only a weak alpha emitter). Depleted uranium is uranium that has much less uranium-235 than natural uranium. It is considerably less radioactive than natural uranium. It is a dense metal that can be used as ballast for ships and counterweights for aircraft. It is also used in ammunition and armour. Depleted uranium can be also used to shield radiation. Depleted uranium is much more effective due to its higher Z. Depleted uranium is used for shielding in portable gamma ray sources. Uranium is used in high-speed steels as an alloying agent to improve strength and toughness. Uranium trioxide (also called uranic oxide) with formula UO3, is an orange-yellow powder and is used as a pigment for ceramics. In glasses it produces a beautiful greenish-yellow “uranium glass”.

Zirconium and Uranium – Comparison in Table

Element	Zirconium	Uranium
Density	6.511 g/cm3	19.05 g/cm3
Ultimate Tensile Strength	330 MPa	390 MPa
Yield Strength	230 MPa	190 MPa
Young’s Modulus of Elasticity	88 GPa	208 GPa
Mohs Scale	5	6
Brinell Hardness	650 MPa	2400 MPa
Vickers Hardness	900 MPa	1960 MPa
Melting Point	1855 °C	1132 °C
Boiling Point	4377 °C	4131 °C
Thermal Conductivity	22.7 W/mK	27 W/mK
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	5.7 µm/mK	13.9 µm/mK
Specific Heat	0.27 J/g K	0.12 J/g K
Heat of Fusion	16.9 kJ/mol	8.52 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization	591 kJ/mol	417 kJ/mol

Zirconium and Niobium – Comparison – Properties

2021-01-22 by Nick Connor

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

zirconium and niobium - comparison

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Zirconium and Niobium – About Elements

Zirconium

Niobium

Niobium is a soft, grey, ductile transition metal, often found in the minerals pyrochlore (the main commercial source for niobium) and columbite

Zirconium in Periodic Table

Niobium in Periodic Table

Source: www.luciteria.com

Zirconium and Niobium – Applications

Zirconium

Niobium

Niobium consumption is dominated by its use as additive to high strength low alloy steel and stainless steel for oil and gas pipelines, car and truck bodies, architectural requirements, tool steels, ships hulls, railroad tracks. However, there are a number of other applications for niobium metal and its compounds. Although niobium has many applications the majority is used in the production of high-grade structural steel. The second largest application for niobium is in nickel-based superalloys. Niobium-tin alloys are used as superconducting magnets.

Zirconium and Niobium – Comparison in Table

Element	Zirconium	Niobium
Density	6.511 g/cm3	8.57 g/cm3
Ultimate Tensile Strength	330 MPa	275 MPa
Yield Strength	230 MPa	70 MPa
Young’s Modulus of Elasticity	88 GPa	105 GPa
Mohs Scale	5	6
Brinell Hardness	650 MPa	740 MPa
Vickers Hardness	900 MPa	1300 MPa
Melting Point	1855 °C	2477 °C
Boiling Point	4377 °C	4744 °C
Thermal Conductivity	22.7 W/mK	53.7 W/mK
Thermal Expansion Coefficient	5.7 µm/mK	7.3 µm/mK
Specific Heat	0.27 J/g K	0.26 J/g K
Heat of Fusion	16.9 kJ/mol	26.4 kJ/mol
Heat of Vaporization	591 kJ/mol	682 kJ/mol

Zirconium and Hafnium – Comparison – Properties

2021-01-22 by Nick Connor

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

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

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