ThyssenKrupp VDM

Zirconium
Resistant in Highly Corrosive
Environments
2
Zirconium
A material for the toughest demands
The outstanding characteristic of zirconium is its resistance in highly corrosive
environments. In chemical plants, zirconium reliably protects apparatus and
piping against corrosion in the presence of high concentrations of acids or
alkaline solutions.

ThyssenKrupp VDM offers this high-performance material in two alloys and
customized dimensions top quality and full service guaranteed.
Specifications
Our products comply with the specifications of ASTM
B551 and ASME SB551, meaning that they fulfil the
toughest requirements, even under demanding con-
ditions. If you have questions about which zirconium
alloy is most suitable for your particular application, we
would be more than pleased to receive your enquiry.
Self-renewing corrosion protection
Zirconium owes its excellent corrosion resistance to a
passivating oxide film (ZrO
2
) that forms very rapidly on
its surface. This film makes the material resistant to
virtually all organic acids and alkaline solutions, as well
as to mineral acids. Moreover this film is self-healing in
contact with aqueous media.
Acetic acid production - MONSANTO
carbonylation process
Urea production (stripper)
Nitric acid applications
Sulphuric acid applications
Methionine production (cattle food additive)
Formic acid environments
Strong alkaline environments
Hydrochloric acid, excluding ferric and cupric ions
Salt solutions
Organics
Applications at a glance
38
66
93
121
149
177
204
232
260
80 90 100
C
0
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
10 20 30 50 40 70 60
H
2
SO
4
Concentration, wt%
F
Boiling point curve
Legend
Zr
Ta
Alloy B
Alloy C
Alloy 20
Corrosion resistance in sulfuric acid
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Physical properties
Density 6.5 g/cm
3
Melting point 1852C
Thermal conductivity 22 W/(m C)
Elastic bending modulus 99.3 GPa
Thermal expansion 5.4x10
-6
/C
ThyssenKrupp VDM Your partner for zirconium
ThyssenKrupp VDM has been manufacturing high-
performance materials for use in demanding
environments for 80 years. We produce corrosion
and heat-resistance materials for our customers, and
provide top-quality processing at our locations in
Germany. We look forward to convincing you with
top-class products and excellent service.
Alloys
ThyssenKrupp VDM produces zirconium plate in two
alloys, Zr700 (R60700) and Zr702 (R60702), to suit
your individual requirements. Zr700 is a low oxygen
grade used for explosion cladding due to its higher
ductility. Zr702 is the conventional manufacturing
grade.
Thickness Width Length
3 to 65 mm Up to 2,500 mm Up to 8,000 mm
Zirconium Grade 700 702
ASTM R60700 R60702
Zr+Hf, min. 99.2 99.2
Hafnium, max. 4.5 4.5
Fe+Cr, max. 0.2 0.2
Hydrogen, max. 0.005 0.005
Nitrogen, max. 0.025 0.025
Carbon, max. 0.05 0.05
Oxygen, max. 0.10 0.16
Other dimensions and semi-finished products on request.
Fabrication
At our works in Unna and Altena, the zirconium products
from ThyssenKrupp VDM undergo processes with ISO
9001 certification from forging of the ingots, all the way
to final quality control of the plate after cutting to size.
Welding
The weldability of Zr 702 is very good as long as the
necessary precautions are taken. Due to the reactive
nature of zirconium, inert gas shielding must be in
place. The material must also be free from any grease
or oil contamination. Manual or automatic TIG welding
is regularly used to weld zirconium either with or
without filler wire.
Bending
Zirconium tubes can be bent at room temperature
using standard bend tooling and techniques. When
bending thin sheet or if a tight bend radius is needed,
a mandrel should be used for adequate support of the
ID. The mandrel should be well lubricated in order to
prevent galling of the ID surface. Due to moderate
strength and low elastic modulus of this alloy, spring-
back is higher than that of stainless steel and must be
taken into account.
Machining and cutting
Machining and cutting zirconium is routine when the
following procedures are used:
Use low cutting speeds and high feed rates
Use large volumes of coolant
Use sharp tools and replace as soon as worn
Never stop feeding while tool is in contact with
workpiece
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5
Applications
Zirconium demonstrates high chemical
resistance, good machining properties,
good welding behaviour, and is completely
recyclable.
These characteristics make the material
suitable for a wide range of purposes.
Zirconium is used in chemical engineering
as a material for explosion-cladded or solid
apparatus, heat exchangers, pumps, fittings
and piping, especially in sulphuric and
hydrochloric acid applications. For example,
zirconium is used in apparatus for producing
hydrochloric acid, acetic acid and urea.
Zirconium is not suitable for use in conjunction
with hydrofluoric acid, sulphuric acid with
a concentration of more than 70%, aqua
regia, and wet chlorine gas, ferric chloride
and cupric chloride.
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Seamless tubes
for the chemical industry
Tube and pipe are supplied in the cold reduced and annealed or partially
annealed condition. Heat exchanger tubes are provided in the vacuum annealed
condition with a bright mill finish surface or polished on request.
O
max
Fe+Cr
max
C
max
H
max
N
max
Hf
max
Zr+Hf
min
0.16 0.2 0.05 0.005 0.025 4.5 99.2
Chemical composition (nominal) %
Seamless zirconium tubing can
be delivered in the following
principle size range:
OD 8-40 mm
WT 0.7-3.5 mm
L up to 16.5 m
ASTM B523
or equivalent

ASME SB-523
Vd TV Werkstoffblatt 480 (plate
specification)
Size range Product standards
Other dimensions can be quoted for special
projects. Due to manufacturing limitations
OD/WT ratios over 29 can only be quoted
under certain circumstances.
Other specifications on request.
Product sizes and type.
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Cooperation
A complete ofer within zirconium
Sandvik Group
The Sandvik Group is a global high technology
enterprise with 44,000 employees in 130 countries.
Sandviks operations are concentrated on three core
businesses: Sandvik Tooling, Sandvik Mining and
Construction and Sandvik Materials Technology
areas in which the group holds leading global
positions in selected niches.
Sandvik Materials Technology
Sandvik Materials Technology is a world-leading
manufacturer of high value-added products in advanced
stainless steels and special alloys, and of medical
implants, steel belt-based systems and industrial
heating solutions.
Quality management
Sandvik Materials Technology has quality management
systems approved by internationally recognized orga-
nizations. We hold, for example, the ASME Quality
Systems Certificate as a materials organization, approval
to ISO 9001, ISO/TS 16949, ISO 17025, and PED
97/23/EC, as well as product approvals from TV, JIS
and Lloyds Register.
Environment, health and safety
Environmental awareness, health and safety are integral
parts of our business and are at the forefront of all
activities within our operation. We hold ISO 14001 and
OHSAS 18001 approvals.
Sandvik Materials Technology
SE-811 81 Sandviken, Sweden
Phone +46 26 26 00 00
Fax +46 26 00 00 00
www.smt.sandvik.com
In order to allow our customers to fully utilize all the advantages of being a
ThyssenKrupp VDM customer, ThyssenKrupp VDM has a close cooperation
with a partner company in order to enable supply of complete product
packages including tube, pipe, wire and other zirconium products used in the
construction of various types of industrial heat exchangers and other process
equipment. This important partner is Sandvik.
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ThyssenKrupp VDM GmbH
P.O. Box 18 20 58778 Werdohl Germany
Plettenberger Strasse 2 58791 Werdohl Germany
Phone +49 (23 92) 55-0 Fax +49 (23 92) 55-22 17
www.thyssenkruppvdm.com vdm@thyssenkrupp.com
Disclaimer
All the information in this brochure is based on practical expe-
rience and the results of our research and development work
and was up-to date at the time of printing. Changes may have
occured in the meantime in the interest of constantly improving
and further developing our materials. Our technical information is
supplied to the best of our knowledge, but no guarantee is given
in respect thereof. Our products and services are supplied solely
in accordance with our General Conditions of Business.