Zirconium dioxide
Zirconium Dioxide
Zirconium dioxide (pronunciation: zir-conium di-oxide), also known as zirconia (pronunciation: zir-conia), is an inorganic compound with the formula ZrO2. It is a white crystalline oxide of zirconium. Its most naturally occurring form, with a monoclinic crystalline structure, is the mineral baddeleyite.
Etymology
The term "zirconium" originates from the Persian word zargun, meaning "gold-colored". It was later adapted to the German Zirkon, and finally anglicized to "zirconium". The term "dioxide" refers to the two oxygen atoms bonded to the zirconium atom in the compound.
Properties and Uses
Zirconium dioxide is used in various applications due to its excellent thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties. It is used in ceramics, dental prosthetics, and fuel cells. In medicine, it is used in the production of artificial joints and dental implants due to its high fracture toughness and chemical inertness.
Related Terms
- Zirconium: A chemical element with the symbol Zr and atomic number 40.
- Baddeleyite: A mineral that consists mostly of zirconium dioxide.
- Ceramics: A broad category of hard, brittle, heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials made by shaping and then firing a nonmetallic mineral, such as clay, at a high temperature.
- Dental prosthetics: An artificial device to replace one or more missing teeth.
- Fuel cells: A device that converts the chemical energy from a fuel into electricity through a chemical reaction with oxygen or another oxidizing agent.
- Artificial joints: A device that is surgically implanted to replace a natural joint, such as a hip or knee.
- Dental implants: A surgical component that interfaces with the bone of the jaw or skull to support a dental prosthesis such as a crown, bridge, denture, facial prosthesis or to act as an orthodontic anchor.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Zirconium dioxide
- Wikipedia's article - Zirconium dioxide
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