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Chemical name: Zirconium(IV) Oxide
Common names: Zirconia, Zirconium dioxide
Chemical formula: ZrO2
Physical appearance: Fine white to off-white powder
Odor: Odorless
Relevant uses: Found in ceramics, dental implants, fuel cell membranes, refractory materials, and abrasive powders
Important notes: Has high heat resistance; often chosen for situations needing mechanical strength at elevated temperatures
Health hazards: Breathing in dust can cause respiratory tract irritation. Eye contact may lead to irritation or redness. Prolonged skin contact could cause dryness. There are no established chronic health risks in humans, but dust inhalation over long stretches of time should be avoided.
Environmental hazards: Potential to persist where released as dust or fine particles. Not recognized as hazardous to aquatic life, but limiting environmental release is best practice.
Physical hazards: Non-flammable, non-explosive — does not support combustion, and doesn’t react strongly with most household or workplace chemicals.
Main ingredient: Zirconium(IV) Oxide: Over 99% by weight
Impurities: Trace amounts of hafnium oxide, silica, alumina sometimes present depending on the mining or extraction process
Key point: Consistency depends on source and refinement, but most industrial supplies stick with purities above 99%
Inhalation: Move person to fresh air promptly. Encourage deep breathing if irritation has occurred. If coughing or respiratory symptoms persist, seek medical attention.
Skin contact: Brush off material and wash affected skin with mild soap and water. Zirconium dioxide doesn’t usually absorb or cause rash.
Eye contact: Rinse eyes thoroughly with clean water for several minutes. Lift upper and lower eyelids if dust is trapped. If redness or discomfort remains, get medical help.
Swallowing: Unlikely to cause acute harm in ordinary quantities, but rinse mouth and seek advice if discomfort occurs.
Suitability: Does not burn and doesn’t support fire. Use water, foam, dry chemical, or CO2 as needed for surrounding fire.
Combustion: Zirconium dioxide will not catch fire itself. In a fire, hazardous fumes aren’t expected from pure product.
Protective gear: Standard firefighter equipment. Breathing apparatus only required if other hazardous fumes or particulates are present in the area.
Additional hazards: None expected from the chemical itself in a fire situation.
Personal precautions: Avoid breathing dust, provide adequate ventilation, wear dust masks or respirators for large spills.
Spill cleanup: Sweep up with care to avoid raising dust. If working indoors, use vacuum systems with HEPA filtration. Minimize airborne spread as much as possible.
Environmental control: Avoid washing large amounts into drains or watercourses. Collect material in appropriately labeled containers for proper disposal.
Work practices: Wetting the powder slightly can suppress dust during cleanup in workplaces.
Handling: Use with good industrial hygiene practices. Avoid generating or inhaling airborne dust. Keep containers tightly closed. Wash hands after use.
Storage: Store in cool, dry area. Keep product in original or compatible container, away from strong acids or alkalis to avoid unwanted chemical reactions. Make sure storage area is well-ventilated, especially if storing in bulk.
Reactivity issues: Storage with strong reducing agents or highly reactive chemicals not advised. Avoid moisture and humidity for best quality control.
Ventilation: Use local exhaust ventilation where large quantities are handled or dust is present.
Breathing protection: Dust masks or approved particulate respirators recommended during tasks with potential dust exposure.
Eye protection: Safety goggles, especially where powder may get airborne.
Skin protection: Gloves and lab coats in workplace settings, plain clothing in small-scale, infrequent use.
Workplace exposure limits: Occupational exposure limit values for zirconium compounds are set by agencies like OSHA and NIOSH; usually sit around 5 mg/m3 (total dust) for an 8-hour shift.
Hygiene practices: Always wash hands and face after handling powder, avoid eating or drinking during handling.
State: Solid, fine powder or granules
Color: White or pale yellow
Melting point: Extremely high, above 2,700°C
Boiling point: Much higher than typical industrial processing temperatures
Density: Around 5.7 g/cm3
Solubility: Practically insoluble in water and most organic solvents
Odor: None
Other notable properties: Good electrical insulation, low thermal conductivity
Chemical stability: Remains stable at ordinary temperatures and pressures. Not easily broken down by light, moisture, or air.
Reactive hazards: No violent reactions with water; reacts only with strong acids or alkalis under harsh conditions.
Decomposition products: No hazardous decomposition under normal use conditions.
Incompatibilities: Strong reducing agents, hydrofluoric acid
Routes of exposure: Inhalation, skin and eye contact, accidental ingestion
Acute effects: Mechanical irritation to eyes or respiratory tract. No evidence for systemic toxicity in humans at work exposure levels.
Chronic effects: Chronic inhalation of large amounts of nuisance dust in industrial settings has the potential to aggravate existing lung conditions.
Carcinogenicity: Major agencies do not classify zirconium dioxide as a carcinogen for humans.
Reproductive effects: No evidence for harm.
Other concerns: If the product is used in medical implants, purity and biocompatibility standards matter more than workplace exposure.
Environmental persistence: Not easily broken down in the environment, can accumulate in soil or sediment as a mineral.
Bioaccumulation: Not expected to build up in animal or aquatic life.
Aquatic toxicity: Doesn’t poison fish or invertebrates at concentrations seen from industrial leaks or accidental spills. Still best to avoid large discharges.
Environmental movement: Fine dusts can spread through air and settle on surfaces far from original site, so dust management is important.
Main ecological concern: Contains no heavy metals or persistent organic compounds that pose long-term hazards, but dust can affect water treatment filtration if released in bulk.
Waste treatment: Handle as non-hazardous waste unless mixed with other dangerous materials. Local, state, and national rules should drive final disposal method.
Reuse: Where possible, recovery and reuse as a raw material minimizes waste and environmental impact.
Disposal options: Landfilling is typical for small quantities, but dust suppression during transport and burial is necessary.
Precautions: Avoid letting large quantities enter drainage systems, stormwater, or water bodies.
Container cleaning: Empty containers can be triple-rinsed and recycled or disposed according to local regulations.
UN classification: Not classified as dangerous or hazardous for transport.
Shipping regulations: Not flagged as hazardous under international rules (e.g., IATA, IMDG, DOT).
Packing: Use sound, sealed containers to prevent dust release. Sturdy packaging protects against spills and reduces occupational risk for handlers.
Other remarks: Not regulated for transport by road, rail, air, or sea, but clean-up and careful handling during loading and unloading matter for safety.
Workplace regulations: Occupational exposure limits for zirconium compounds exist in many countries. Regulatory bodies recommend monitoring airborne dust at workplaces.
Chemical inventory status: Listed on most chemical inventories such as the US TSCA and Europe’s REACH, so manufacturers and importers must meet reporting and handling rules.
Labelling: No labelling required under most national or international chemical labeling guidelines, but workplace signage should note dust hazard.
Use restrictions: Specialty grades are regulated more tightly in medical, food contact, or high-purity applications.
Safety programs: Safety data sheets and worker training are required in many regions whenever used or processed industrially.
