Reaction of zirconia with metals

Abstract

Investigation was carried out of the resistance of stabilized ZrO2 to the action of molten Fe, Cr, Ni, Al, and steel grades St. 3 and 1Kh18N9T in vacuo and in a reducing medium. The degree of impregnation with the melts is lower for products fabricated from unstabilized ZrO2 than for the other investigated refractories. Among the solid solutions of ZrO2 with a stabilizer the metal resistance was highest for the products molded from the cubic solid solution ZrO3-Nd2O3. The nature of the reaction of Cr and steel grade 1Kh18N9T with ZrO2 stabilized with CeO2 and Nd2O3 consists of partial destabilization of the ZrO2 in the contact zone as a result of the formation of chromites of the rare-earth elements. No crystalline regeneration occurred in the reactions with the other molten metals and steel grade St. 3. The product of the reaction of these agents with ZrO2 stabilized with CaO, Nd2O3, or CeO2 was a vitreous phase rich in the oxide of the metal concerned.