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IndependentBoffin
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Anyone interested in buying some zirconium?
Through my work as an independent defence contractor I buy and use lots of high purity zirconium. The metal is extremely reactive and can burn in
water, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, etc. Sources vary but the heat of combustion of the metal is around 10kJ/g.
Some example prices:
Zirconium rod, 99.5% pure, 50mm diameter. USD160/kg excl. shipping
Zirconium powder, 100 - 150 microns, 99% pure, USD320/kg excl. shipping
Zirconium machine swarf. USD100/kg excl. shipping.
Other forms can be supplied upon request.
I can also sell zirconium missile components which I hold patents on, subject to British export licenses. Production capacity is in the region of
thousands of parts a year.
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Bot0nist
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Interesting.
Should this go in reagent and apparatus acquisition?
U.T.F.S.E. and learn the joys of autodidacticism!
Don't judge each day only by the harvest you reap, but also by the seeds you sow.
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IndependentBoffin
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Hmm I am new to this forum but I don't think zirconium classes as a "common chemical"  but I defer to the more experienced regulars here.
Also it is the buyer's responsibility to check that they don't need additional permits to import the stuff.
FWIW the stuff is pretty quiescent unless it is in forms of high specific surface area, see "Review of zirconium-zircaloy pyrophoricity." Great
bedtime reading 
http://www.osti.gov/bridge/servlets/purl/5791423-14Pgn9/
[Edited on 19-4-2011 by IndependentBoffin]
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The WiZard is In
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You cannot export it from the US of A without a permit.
Think cluster bombs.
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IndependentBoffin
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I am based in the UK. Restrictions will certainly apply to the finished forms ready for incorporation into missiles, i.e. British export licenses.
My finished zirconium products are not used in cluster bombs, although in theory they can be.
Whether restrictions apply to the raw material probably depend on the country the buyer is in, and who they are.
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The WiZard is In
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See also —
DOE-HDBK-1081-94
DOE HANDBOOK PRIMER ON SPONTANEOUS HEATING AND PYROPHORICITY.
The Primer on Spontaneous Heating and Pyrophoricity is approved
for use by all DOE Components. It was developed to help DOE
facility contractors prevent fires caused by spontaneous
combustion. Spontaneously combustible materials include those
that ignite because of a slow buildup of heat (spontaneous
heating) and those that ignite instantly in air (pyrophoricity). The
scientific principles of combustion and how they affect materials
known to be spontaneously combustible are explained. The fire
hazards of specific spontaneously heating and pyrophoric materials
are discussed as well as techniques to prevent their ignition.
Suitable fire extinguishing agents are included for most materials
as well as safety precautions for storage and handling.
http://www.everyspec.com/DOE/DOE-HDBK/DOE-HDBK-1081-94_3259/
And other URL's.
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quicksilver
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I'm going to move this thread to "Reagents & Apparatus Acquisition" : as it's more appropriate at that section.....
However there IS a source for Zirconium that you may find available; especially if you have a photography oriented store near-by.....Flashbulbs.
Certain brands have Zirconium wool and do still exist if you know where to look.
[Edited on 20-4-2011 by quicksilver]
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quicksilver
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Thread Moved
20-4-2011 at 06:58 |
Fleaker
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These prices are much lower than that available from Alfa, Goodfellow, and Advent RM.
Unfortunately, the powder is pyrophoric and would be difficult to import/export, and that's about the limit of its restrictions.
The bulk metal is really tame, nothing much etches it except HF. You have any other valve metals, preferably in crystal rod form?
How much Hf is in these?
Neither flask nor beaker.
"Kid, you don't even know just what you don't know. "
--The Dark Lord Sauron
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IndependentBoffin
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Quote: Originally posted by quicksilver  | I'm going to move this thread to "Reagents & Apparatus Acquisition" : as it's more appropriate at that section.....
However there IS a source for Zirconium that you may find available; especially if you have a photography oriented store near-by.....Flashbulbs.
Certain brands have Zirconium wool and do still exist if you know where to look.
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OK no problem quicksilver.
Getting zirconium from flashbulbs would be a very time consuming and expensive exercise
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IndependentBoffin
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I was going to charge even more but decided that this forum is probably not flush with rich corporates but scientists, engineers, technicians, etc.
like yours truly who just enjoy the work we do. So I am giving you all a discount
Yes I know how much those guys cost, and also Allegheny Technologies metals. I scoped them out when I was sourcing for the metal for my work
| Quote: |
Unfortunately, the powder is pyrophoric and would be difficult to import/export, and that's about the limit of its restrictions.
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Haven't had much problems importing it. It comes in tubs with distilled water over it. Please keep under 60 Celcius 
| Quote: |
The bulk metal is really tame, nothing much etches it except HF. You have any other valve metals, preferably in crystal rod form?
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I can also supply Ni, Ti, Mo, Ta, Co and Nb. However I do not routinely use these materials in my company's products so a minimum order size and some
waiting time would apply.
Some other example prices of high purity (usually >99%) materials:
Titanium sheet, 2mm thick: USD$35/kg
Niobium sheet, 2mm thick: USD$390/kg
Cobalt sheet, 2mm thick: USD$539/kg
Nickel sheet, 2mm thick: USD$87/kg
Zirconium sheet, 2mm thick: USD$302/kg
Rod forms are usually cheaper per kg, e.g.
Titanium rod, OD 150mm: USD$41/kg
Molybdenum rod, OD 150mm: USD$100/kg
Tantalum rod, OD 150mm: USD$1034/kg
Cobalt rod, OD 150mm: USD$302/kg
Nickel rod, OD 150mm: USD$62/kg
Zirconium rod, OD 150mm: USD$140/kg (bigger OD rod is slightly cheaper than smaller OD)
Niobium rod, OD 150mm: USD$345/kg
| Quote: | | How much Hf is in these? |
In the rods and powder, under 1%. It is the most significant impurity.
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Polverone
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Courtesy of IndependentBoffin:
The Combustion of Titanium and Zirconium
This is intended as supplementary information for prospective buyers of zirconium and the merely curious.
PGP Key and corresponding e-mail address
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Arthur Dent
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I have a crapload of those antique flashbulbs!!! Now I don't know if these are Magnesium wool or Zirconium... The ones I got have a General Electric
red logo on top of the bulb.
Robert
--- Art is making something out of nothing and selling it. - Frank Zappa ---
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IndependentBoffin
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| Quote: Originally posted by Arthur Dent |
I have a crapload of those antique flashbulbs!!! Now I don't know if these are Magnesium wool or Zirconium... The ones I got have a General Electric
red logo on top of the bulb.
Robert
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I think they are most likely magnesium or aluminium based thermites.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_powder
Although highly electropositive, the reaction rate of zirconium is not as fast as one might think it would be. This is because the metal has a high
melting and boiling point - one of the reasons why it is used as nuclear reactor fuel rod cladding, apart from its neutron transparency.
The high BP means that combustion of zirconium metal happens via oxygen diffusion into solid or liquid metal (the exact phase depends on heat losses
and reactant transport rates). Compare this with magnesium or aluminium, whose boiling point is well below the flame temperature.
Therefore magnesium and aluminium boil, turn into metallic vapour and burn in a gaseous phase. The boiling process increases the surface area
dramatically.
One advantage of the way zirconium burns is that because the metal doesn't vapourise, the reaction rate can be a lot more controlled and predictable.
Magnesium or aluminium powder's reaction rate can start slow but accelerate as more and more metal is boiled off.
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Wizzard
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I would be rather interested in spare chunks of these (pass-around the classroom sized samples, at least 1"):
Molybdenum rod, OD 150mm: USD$100/kg
Tantalum rod, OD 150mm: USD$1034/kg
Cobalt rod, OD 150mm: USD$302/kg
Nickel rod, OD 150mm: USD$62/kg
Zirconium rod, OD 150mm: USD$140/kg
Niobium rod, OD 150mm: USD$345/kg
So long as the price is educator-salary friendly It's much easier to buy from
somebody who works with and may have spare parts, rather than a person selling samples and full pieces.
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IndependentBoffin
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I have immediate stock of zirconium forms as described in my OP.
Even very small samples of some of the metals would be very expensive.
E.g. tantalum's density = 16.69gcm-3
A 2.5x2.5x2.5cm cube would weigh about a quarter of a kg.
Don't chemistry supply shops sell metal specimens in glass tubes for educational purposes?
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Wizzard
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Yes, I'm looking for somewhat less expensive, unsealed samples of any small shapes- They are to be handled and passed around in a classroom setting.
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IndependentBoffin
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Alright, if you want any metals on that list let me know and I will see if my networks can provide a sample (sample meaning it will still cost money
but it is not subject to a minimum order quantity).
Also, thoroughly research the necessary precautions with the metals. E.g.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobalt
| Quote: | | After nickel and chromium, cobalt is a major cause of contact dermatitis and is considered carcinogenic. In 1966, the addition of cobalt compounds to
stabilize beer foam in Canada led to cardiomyopathy, which came to be known as beer drinker's cardiomyopathy. |
If there is interest in pure magnesium billets, let me know too and I can make enquiries. We all know how useful magnesium is as a reducing agent!
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IndependentBoffin
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One of the board members wants to buy 10g of swarf. Here's what 10g looks like.
With some very careful measurements you can check the density is ~6.52 g/cc, not a conclusive test of purity but a readily available one.
If you burn a filament of the zirconium swarf you will see it burns slowly with a white hot flame, producing little smoke unlike magnesium or
aluminium which produces white vapours of the oxide in the gas phase. Not to be confused with the burning oil coating it will come in, to prevent
further atmospheric oxidation (this burns first with a yellow flame).
If enough people are interested I will put up some still pictures or a video of the zirconium burning
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IndependentBoffin
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This is a picture of a ~30cm long Zr swarf burning. It burns steadily with a bright flame and little smoke.
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Fleaker
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How much would a kilogram of swarf be?
Neither flask nor beaker.
"Kid, you don't even know just what you don't know. "
--The Dark Lord Sauron
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IndependentBoffin
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The main cost will be shipping. 10g occupies about 200ml without compaction. I won't compact it unless the buyer specifically requests, because it
would result in broken filaments. Longer filaments are always nicer
PM me with your general location to estimate shipping.
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Fleaker
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Oh, I don't really care about broken filaments. I merely wanted it for making Cs from its dichromate salt. I've often wondered how well it worked.
Calcium granules cost about $200 per kilo sans shipping.
Neither flask nor beaker.
"Kid, you don't even know just what you don't know. "
--The Dark Lord Sauron
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IndependentBoffin
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Do you know if the oxidised zirconium (either from the air or once it reduces the Cs+) will dissolve in solution? I can send you a smaller sample
first to see if it works well.
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Fleaker
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The alkali metal is distilled off, and it's supposedly better than Ca for making gas free metal.
Neither flask nor beaker.
"Kid, you don't even know just what you don't know. "
--The Dark Lord Sauron
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IndependentBoffin
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OK I'm always happy to have customers that place larger orders but my concern is that you end up with a product you can't use and become unhappy,
hence my offer to send you a small sample first.
But if you're 100% sure I can try to compact a kilo as much as I can and then send it to you.
I can sell the following:
1) Various high purity non-ferrous metals - Ni, Co, Ta, Zr, Mo, Ti, Nb.
2) Alkex para-aramid Korean Kevlar analogue fabric (about 50% Du Pont's prices)
3) NdFeB magnets
4) High purity technical ceramics
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