ZIRCONIA BOARDS, DISCS & CYLINDERS

TYPE ZYZ

Features

• Rigid and Machinable
• Silica Bond for Thermal Shock Resistance
• Available
  

• Extreme High Temperature Stability
• Fibers Stabilized with ~10 wt% Yttria
• Low Thermal Conductivity
• Can be Cemented with Zircar Zirconia Cement Type ZR-CEM
• Can be Surface Hardened with Zircar Zirconia Rigidizer Type ZR-RIG
• Pre-fired and Organic Free

Type ZYZ Boards and Discs are rigid, refractory structures composed of yttria-stabilized zirconia fibers that are bonded with silica. This unique composition provides Type ZYZ insulation with the low thermal conductivity of zirconia fibers combined with the strength and machinability of a silica bonded material. ZYZ is evenly bonded, allowing it to be machined to tight tolerances and intricate shapes. ZYZ has a lower coefficient of thermal expansion than our Type ZYFB materials.

Type ZYZ is ideally suited for thermal insulation and protection applications under conditions of ultra-high temperatures and in a variety of severe environments. ZYZ is fired at a high temperature to impart good dimensional stability up to 1650°C. ZYZ has good hot strength up to 1400°C and can be used as a self supporting setter for loads equal to twice its own weight up to this temperature. ZYZ produces no smoke or odor and undergoes no physically disruptive phase transitions when heated. ZYZ is available in two forms. ZYZ-3 has a bulk density of 30 pcf and possesses extremely low thermal conductivity. ZYZ-6 has a bulk density of 60 pcf and is stronger than ZYZ-3.

Zirconia loses a small amount of oxygen at very high temperatures in vacuum and inert or reducing atmospheres. Although this reaction results in a color change from white to gray, other properties remain essentially unchanged and insulation effectiveness is not impaired.

SShown below are SEM micrographs of ZYZ-3 (left) and ZYZ-6 board surfaces. Both materials are made by vacuum forming zirconia fibers and sintering at a high temperature. The fibers used in ZYZ-6 are generally shorter than those used in ZYZ-3 and are packed tighter resulting in a higher density, lower porosity and higher strength.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION

Zircar Zirconia's Type ZYZ is nominally 85 wt% ZrO2 + HfO₂ and 10 wt% Y₂O₃. 1 to 2 wt% hafnia (HfO₂) occurs naturally with zirconia (ZrO2) and does not affect performance. Only the highest purity starting materials are used to make Type ZYZ minimizing trace oxides.

MACHINING INFORMATION

Zirconia Type ZYZ has the consistency of soft chalk and can be cut or machined with a very wide range of tooling. For manual cutting place the ZYZ part on a smooth clean surface and hold it in place with gentle finger pressure. When close tolerances are not required and the amount of cutting is limited, small holes can be drilled by hand with a standard high speed steel twist drill rotated between the fingers and boards can be cut with a back saw. If closer tolerances are needed, holes can be drilled using a drill press and boards can be cut with a radial arm saw. Table saws are not recommended without a carrier board since the motion of the material over the saw bed will tend to abrade away the material. For very close tolerances and large amounts of cutting, CNC machining with solid carbide or carbide tipped tooling is recommended. While quite soft, Type ZYZ is very abrasive and will cause rapid wear of high speed steel tooling which over time could result in an out of tolerance condition. ZYZ boards can be held in place for CNC machining with a vacuum hold down set up. Hot glue can also be used to fixture ZYZ but will generally form a very strong bond that will pull away material from the machined part. Crystal Bond ™ which burns away cleanly when heated has also been used to fixture ZYZ.

PROPERTIES & CHARACTERISTICS

APPLICATION INFORMATION

• ZYZ Boards are used as self-supporting, primary thermal insulation in laboratory and industrial furnaces.
• ZYZ Boards and Discs may be used as high temperature heat shielding. It can replace or reduce the number of conventional refractory metal shields needed in many vacuum furnace applications and is not restricted to non-oxidizing conditions.
• ZYZ Boards and Discs are excellent setter and fixturing materials. ZYZ's machinability, dimensional stability and low heat capacity favor its use as a setter in both continuous and batch processes.
• Complex assemblies and fixtures can be fabricated by bonding ZYZ boards and shapes together using Zircar Zirconia Cement Type ZR-CEM. The cemented ZYZ assembly can be easily machined into the custom shape required for your application. ZYZ surfaces can also be hardened with Zirconia Rigidizer Type ZR-RIG.
• ZYZ is not suitable for use in reducing atmospheres because the silica binder is removed in service. For applications where silica is undesirable our zirconia bonded fiber materials ZYFB-3, ZYFB-6 and/or FBD are recommended.

ORDERING INFORMATION

Zircar Zirconia Insulation Type ZYZ is available in Standard sized Boards and Discs. which are listed on page 6 along with their ordering item number. Please contact our Sales Department for Pricing and Availability.

• TTo order one of our standard sized Boards or Discs specify the Quantity you wish to order, Product Type, Item #, and Size. For example: 12 each, ZYZ-3, Item # AE011, 12" x 12" x 1.00" TK
• Our forming process and machining capabilities allow a wide variety of custom sized parts to be made (such as: boards, discs and other shapes ). Please contact us with your special requirements and we'll be happy to provide you with a quotation.

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