SubscribeNickel-Electro, which designs and manufacturers the popular Clifton range of temperature control equipment, offers customers a choice of laboratory crucibles, including the Zirconium range.
Zirconium has many rare – even unique – qualities which are of significant importance for use in fusions and fluxes for analytical chemistry.
It has, for example, remarkable corrosion resistance which explains its popularity in the chemical processing industry. It is also resistant to melts of alkali (Na, K, Li) carbonates, hydroxides, peroxides, borates, nitrates, chlorides and some fluorides. Zirconium will withstand a wide range of caustics and acids to a greater degree than any other commonly used metal and is completely resistant to most solvents of all concentration except hydrofluoric acid.
Zirconium is ideal for most fusions done in full heat as little or no attack on or oxidation of the crucible occurs, and will not alloy with more easily reducible metals. In addition it offers virtual elimination of sample contamination. Other benefits include minimum levels of care such as smoothing and reshaping, and none of the high-cost investment and security problems associated with platinum.
Melvin Dickson, Managing Director of Nickel-Electro tells us “Zirconium is a little more expensive, but when you study its properties you can see why. Particularly when you take into account the fact that the average number of fusions that can be made in a Zirconium crucible stand at a longevity ratio of 20 to 1 against some alternatives.'’.
For more information about Nickel-Electro products visit their website at: www.nickel-electro.co.uk or contact Melvin Dickson direct on 01934 626691.