Zirconium versus Zirconia

Is Zirconia a Metal?

Zirconium

Zirconium (Zr) is a chemical element that can be found all around us.

It is typically found in rock and sand deposits, from which it is mined and refined. It is a lustrous, gray-white, strong transition metal that closely resembles hafnium and, to a lesser extent, titanium. It is malleable and ductile and easily forms stable compounds. It is also highly resistant to corrosion. Because of its high tolerance to corrosion and its strength, zirconium is present in several compounds in various medical uses.

ZIRCONIA is different from ZIRCONIUM

Zirconium Dioxide “ZrO2” (a compound commonly known as Zirconia) is different from Zirconium “Zr” (the element)

Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), which is also referred to as zirconium oxide or zirconia, is an inorganic metal oxide that is mainly used in ceramic materials. It is a white crystalline oxide of zirconium, a powder like substance that is used as a ceramic material. Zirconium is most commonly converted to Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) when Oxygen and Zirconium is combined at high temperatures.

*Zirconia has some rather peculiar electrical properties and can under certain circumstances become electrically conducting.