Zirconia Fibre for Ultra-High Temperature Applications
topic
Zirconia fibres of yttria-stabilised tetragonal or cubic polycrystalline phase are produced by sol-gel spinning of zirconium salt solutions with yttrium stabiliser followed by calcination, providing continuous service temperatures from 1800 to 2200 degrees Celsius, thermal conductivity below 2 watts per metre kelvin, and chemical inertness in oxidising, reducing, and vacuum atmospheres inaccessible to alumina fibres.
Role
Provides the highest service temperature inorganic fibre available for research furnace linings operating above 1800 degrees Celsius, space re-entry vehicle thermal protection system tiles requiring ultra-high surface temperature capability, and exotic chemical process insulation where the unique combination of extreme temperature capability and chemical inertness justifies the very high cost of zirconia fibre products.