Zirconium combines two properties that rarely coexist: exceptional corrosion resistance and remarkably low neutron absorption. That combination makes it indispensable to nuclear energy, and valuable anywhere materials must withstand aggressive environments for years at a time.
ATI has produced zirconium for more than 70 years. Today, we control one of the industry's most demanding transformations: separating naturally occurring hafnium from zirconium, refining the metal to nuclear-grade purity, and converting it into the high-integrity product forms our customers depend on.
Almost Invisible to Neutrons
In a nuclear reactor, every neutron matters.
Nuclear-grade zirconium absorbs up to 10X fewer thermal neutrons than stainless steels or nickel alloys of comparable thickness, allowing more neutrons to sustain the nuclear reaction instead of being lost to surrounding structural material.
Built for Corrosive Environments.
Zirconium naturally develops a highly stable protective oxide layer, giving it exceptional resistance to corrosion in aggressive chemical and high-temperature water environments.
That corrosion resistance is why zirconium performs not only in reactor systems but also in demanding chemical-processing applications.
Strength for Long-Duration Service.
Certain zirconium alloys use small additions of elements such as niobium to improve creep resistance - the ability to maintain shape under sustained temperature and load.
Zr-2.5Nb and Zr705 are among our most creep-resistant zirconium alloys, to approximately 500°C.
Separating Two Elements Nature Put Together.
Zirconium does not come out of the ground ready for a reactor. Natural zircon contains zirconium and hafnium together at roughly a 50:1 ratio. That's a problem: zirconium absorbs very few neutrons, while hafnium absorbs them readily. Nuclear applications therefore require the hafnium to be removed to extraordinarily low levels.
Separation Is the Science.
Zirconium and hafnium are extraordinarily difficult to separate because their chemical behavior is so similar. ATI has spent decades mastering that chemistry.
Through a multi-step chemical process, ATI separates zirconium from hafnium, converts it into high-purity zirconium oxide and ultimately produces nuclear-grade zirconium metal.
Purity Beyond Hafnium.
Removing hafnium isn't enough. Nuclear applications require tight control of carbon, aluminum, nitrogen, oxygen, iron and other impurities that can affect performance.
ATI has continually improved its process to meet increasingly stringent impurity requirements, including applications that demand even lower impurity levels than previous generations.
From Chemistry to Finished Metal.
ATI doesn't stop at purified oxide or sponge. We manage zirconium across a highly integrated production chain - from chemical separation and metal production through melting, conversion, extrusion, fabrication and precision product forms.
Qualified Where the Stakes Are Highest
For nuclear applications, making the material isn't enough. It has to be qualified - and then reproduced consistently for decades.
ATI's zirconium history stretches back to 1956, when the U.S. government contracted with the predecessor of today's ATI operation to provide zirconium for nuclear reactors. ATI material was used on the U.S. Navy's first nuclear-powered submarine, and ATI has supplied the nuclear Navy ever since.
The ATI Zirconium Portfolio
A Rare Position in a Critical Supply Chain: The Only Independent Producer.
Nuclear-grade zirconium is produced by only three companies in the Western world. ATI occupies a differentiated position as the only independent producer, giving nuclear customers access to critical zirconium materials without competing with them downstream in nuclear fuel fabrication.
Nuclear-Grade Zirconium
Purity engineered for the reactor core.
Nuclear-grade zirconium combines exceptionally low neutron absorption with the corrosion resistance and long-term stability required around nuclear fuel. ATI removes naturally occurring hafnium to below 100 ppm, then tightly controls chemistry and processing for demanding reactor applications.
Zircaloy-2
Used in demanding nuclear fuel applications where low neutron absorption, corrosion resistance and dimensional stability are critical.
- Fuel Cladding
- Channel Components
- Structural Reactor Components
Zircaloy-4
A widely used zirconium alloy combining low neutron absorption with corrosion resistance and reliable long-duration performance.
- Fuel Cladding
- Pressure-Tube Reactor Fuel Systems
- Grid & Structural Components
Zr-2.5Nb
Niobium additions enhance creep resistance, making Zr-2.5Nb particularly suited for demanding structural applications in nuclear reactor systems.
- Pressure Tubes
- Reactor Structural Components
- Long-Duration High-Load Applications
Industrial Zirconium
When corrosion is the enemy.
Industrial grades retain zirconium's exceptional corrosion resistance without the ultra-low hafnium requirement of nuclear material. Natural zirconium contains hafnium at roughly a 50:1 zirconium-to-hafnium ratio.
Zr702
Commercially pure zirconium for highly corrosive chemical-processing environments where equipment life and process purity matter more than high mechanical strength.
- Chemical Processing
- Heat Exchangers
- Process Equipment
- Specialty Applications
Zr705
Niobium strengthens zirconium and improves creep resistance while maintaining the corrosion performance that makes zirconium valuable in severe environments.
- Pressure-Containing Equipment
- Chemical Processing
- Structural Components
- High-Load Corrosive Service
Where Zirconium Perform
Learn More About Our Materials
Learn more about our materials.
See Zirconium Data Sheets
