Zirconium in R&D - Coatings

For many years zirconium based materials have been used in industrial and aerospace coating applications to provide thermal stability, durability, thermal barriers, abrasion resistance and waterproofing. Research continues in these areas with a wide range of materials and zirconium continues to be a front runner with its performance benefits. Here are a number of coating technologies being developed using zirconium based materials:

Rare earth zirconates such as Gd2Zr2O7 are currently being analysed for thermal barrier coatings

(F. Zhang, J. Wang, J. Lian, M. Lang, U. Becker, and R. Ewing, "Phase stability and pressure dependence of defect formation in Gd2Ti2O7 and Gd2Zr2O7 pyrochlores”, Physical review letters, vol. 100, no. 4, p. 045503, 2008)

Zirconium nitride used as a heat treatable material to produce scratch resistance surfaces of zirconium oxide.

(V. S. Veerasamy et al., "Heat treatable coated article with diamond-like carbon (dlc) and/or zirconium in coating”, Mar. 24 2009. US Patent 7,507,442)

Zirconium oxide coatings used to improve the corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys

(Q. Li, X. Zhong, J. Hu, and W. Kang, "Preparation and corrosion resistance studies ofzirconia coating on fluorinated AZ91D magnesium alloy”, Progress in Organic Coatings, vol. 63, no. 2, pp. 222–227, 2008)

Zirconium silicate and nickel alloy coatings for enhanced abrasion resistance

(J. Brezinová, I. Maková, and M. Egri, "Selected aspects of ceramic coatings prepared by thermal spraying with water plasma arc stabilization”, Acta Metallurgica Slovaca, vol. 19, no. 1, pp. 43–50, 2013)

Yttria stabilised zirconia plasma spray suspension coatings which modify the microstructure of turbine blades, improving thermal stability and reliability.

(A. Vaidya, V. Srinivasan, T. Streibl, M. Friis, W. Chi, and S. Sampath, "Process maps for plasma spraying of yttria-stabilized zirconia: An integrated approach to design, optimization and reliability”, Materials Science and Engineering: A, vol. 497, no. 1, pp. 239–253, 2008.)

Zirconia acrylate composites providing improved weathering and fire protection performance of wooden floors.  Also zirconium and other nanoparticles improving strength and waterproofing of wood.

(V. Landry, B. Riedl, and P. Blanchet, "Alumina and zirconia acrylate nanocomposites coatings for wood flooring: Photocalorimetric characterization”, Progress in Organic Coatings, vol. 61, no. 1, pp. 76–82, 2008.)

Zirconium nanoparticle technology improving water repellence in the textile industry.

(H. L. Van Mater, "Method of waterproofing textiles”, Sept. 27 1949. US Patent 2,482,816)

Zirconium oxide nanoparticles being developed for UV and antibacterial protection on textiles as well as being used in wound treatment.

(M. Gouda, "Nano-zirconium oxide and nano-silver oxide/cotton gauze fabrics for antimicrobial and wound healing acceleration”, Journal of Industrial Textiles, vol. 41, no. 3, pp. 222–240, 2012)

Zirconium compounds for super-hydrophobic anti –icing coatings on glass surfaces.

(D. Gao, A. K. Jones, and V. K. Sikka, "Anti-icing superhydrophobic coatings”, June 15 2010. US Patent App. 12/815,535.)