The latest in a long line of new materials, products and services, is the introduction of Precision ground and polished Zirconia Zirconium Oxide (ZrO2).
The Multi-Lab group, has an enormous amount of experience in grinding lapping and polishing quartz built up over many years. The Board of Multi-lab could see the opportunity immediately with most if not all of the equipment already in place, it was more a case of investment into the correct and separate diamond tooling.
So as to ensure there is no cross contamination of materials, a very big concern when using subcontract grinding companies, many of whom use the same wheels / tooling for all materials, (Hard metals such as Tungsten Carbide Ect) which can result in submicron metal particles being embedded into the surface of the ultra-pure ceramic, This is very often, completely unacceptable for a ceramic / zirconia application, as many are used in the, Chemical, Food and Medical industries.
Zirconium Oxide is a very versatile material, with very specific properties.
Typically Zirconium Oxide used in the production of:
- Wear and corrosion Acid / Alkali resistant pump parts, Shafts, Bearings & Liners ect
- Dosing pumps, pistons and bodies.
- Cutting blades, Industrial, as well as kitchen knives
- Seals & Valves
- Tips for sensors
Zirconia is generally stabilized with Magnesia but Alumina toughened is also available. Some grades can operate in excess of 2000 deg C but with a limited life the higher you go.
Typical advantages over many other ceramic materials:
- High Toughness
- High Hardness
- High Wear resistance
- High Strength
- High resistance to fracture with a good modulus of elasticity
- Low thermal conductivity
- Excellent resistance to Acid / Alkali corrosion
Due to a combination of high density and very fine particle size, Multi-Lab have been constantly achieving better than Ra 0.025 um.
Zirconia is also, often the choice of ceramic for bonding to steel due to a very similar thermal expansion.
