MANUAL Published: 01 January 2010
MNL12105R

Extractive Metallurgy of Zirconium—1945 to the Present

Source

Although the history of thr reduction of zirconium dates from 1824 and the first ductile zirconium metal was produced in the laboratory in 1914. modern reduction practice was pioneered by the U.S. Bureau of Mines starting in 1945.

This paper reviews the history of the extractive metallurgy of zirconium from the early work of W. J. Kroll and co-workers at the Bureau of Mines in Albany. Ore.. through the commercial development of the production of reactor-grade zirconiun metal which was spurred by the requirements of the Naval Reactor Program and the development of commercial nuclear power.

Technical subjects covered include processes for opening the ore. zirconium-hafnium Separation, chlorination of zirconium oxide, reduction processes, and electrowinning of zirconium metal. Proposed new processes and process modifications are reviewed. The original paper was published by ASTM International in STP 824, Zirconium in the Nuclear Industry: Sixth International Symposium, 1984, pp. 5–36.

Author Information

Stephens, William, W.
Bureau of Mines, Boulder City, Nev.
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Details
Developed by Committee: B10
Pages: 57–88
DOI: 10.1520/MNL12105R
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-8421-3
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-7018-6