Zircon and zirconia. 2nd Edition

Gold-colored (zircon) is refractory, hard, and resistant to chemical attack. Its main use is an opacifier, conferring a white, opaque appearance to ceramic materials and alloying agent. Its compounds are used in many biomedical applications, including dental implants, knee and hip replacements, and middle-ear ossicular chain reconstruction. Zirconium dioxide (zirconia) has exceptional fracture toughness and chemical resistance so it is used as a thermal barrier coating and a common diamond substitute. Also, it is used in laboratory crucible, metallurgical furnaces, grinding wheels, sandpaper and as a refractory material. Therefore, it is important to study the properties of zirconium and its oxide.