Zirconium diboride
Properties
Chemical formula: ZrB₂
Name: Zirconium diboride
CAS No.: 12045-64-6
Molar mass: 112.84 g/mol
Density: 6.08 g/cm³
Melting point: approx. 3245 °C
Color: dark gray to black
Form: fine powder or dense sintered body
Crystal structure: hexagonal, AlB₂ type
Vickers hardness: above 22 GPa
Thermal conductivity: approx. 60-100 W/(m·K)
Electrical conductivity: approx. 10⁷ S/m
Zirconium diboride (ZrB₂) is a high-strength compound of zirconium and boron belonging to the class of Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics (UHTC). It is commercially supplied as a fine dark-gray to black powder or as a dense sintered body. With a melting point of approximately 3245 °C, the material offers exceptional resistance to extreme thermal loads.
ZrB₂ has a hexagonal AlB₂-type crystal structure characterized by strong B-B and Zr-B bonds. This gives the material a Vickers hardness above 22 GPa, a high elastic modulus and excellent resistance to abrasion and mechanical wear.
Unlike many conventional ceramics, zirconium diboride combines high electrical conductivity with high thermal conductivity. Its electrical conductivity of around 10⁷ S/m makes electrical discharge machining (EDM) possible, while a thermal conductivity of approximately 60-100 W/(m·K) supports efficient heat dissipation in high-temperature applications.
The material also offers strong resistance to molten metals, slags and non-oxidizing acids. This combination of thermal, mechanical and electrical properties makes ZrB₂ particularly suitable for highly demanding ceramic and composite systems.
Industrial zirconium diboride is produced by high-temperature borothermic or carbothermic processes using zirconium and boron compounds, including zirconium dioxide, boron-containing raw materials and carbon. Processing temperatures above approximately 1800 °C are typically used.
Zirconium and its compounds are particularly important in aerospace technology, specialty metallurgy, cutting ceramics, electronics and high-temperature composites. Would you like to buy zirconium diboride? Auremo can provide information about available purity grades, material forms and delivery conditions. The zirconium price, zirconium metal price and zirconium price per kg primarily refer to metallic zirconium, while the zirconium diboride price depends on purity, particle size, product form and order quantity.
Advantages
• Extremely high melting point of approximately 3245 °C
• High structural stability under extreme thermal loads
• Electrical conductivity suitable for EDM machining
• High thermal conductivity compared with many ceramic materials
• Vickers hardness above 22 GPa
• Excellent abrasion and wear resistance
• Resistance to molten metals and slags
• Suitable for ultra-high-temperature ceramic systems
Applications
• Aerospace thermal-protection systems
• Nose caps and leading edges for hypersonic vehicles
• Rocket nozzles
• Crucibles for molten metals
• Thermocouple protection tubes
• Immersion tubes and metallurgical nozzles
• ZrB₂-SiC composites
• High-performance cutting tools
• Wear-resistant protective components
• Electrical contact materials
• Evaporation boats for vacuum coating
• High-temperature nuclear technology
Auremo offers zirconium diboride and other high-temperature ceramic materials for industrial, research and advanced technical applications. If you have questions about purity, particle size, product form or delivery conditions, please contact us directly.
