What is zirconia brick?
Zirconia brick is a precision silicon-carbide wear part made from high-purity yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ / Y-TZP), used to protect equipment from abrasive and impact wear. The yttria-stabilized zirconia body gives density ≈ 6.0 g/cm³, hardness ≈ 1200 HV and exceptional fracture toughness, resisting chipping better than alumina. In mining, cement, steel, power-plant ash handling, chemical processing and lithium-battery material plants, they extend equipment life and cut maintenance.
What is zirconia brick used for?
They seal, guide or meter abrasive, hot or corrosive flows in pumps, cyclones and reactors, withstanding temperatures up to ~1380°C and aggressive chemicals.
What material and properties make zirconia brick effective?
The yttria-stabilized zirconia body gives density ≈ 6.0 g/cm³, hardness ≈ 1200 HV and exceptional fracture toughness, resisting chipping better than alumina. These properties let zirconia brick outlast steel and rubber in abrasive service.
Why choose zirconia brick over steel or rubber alternatives?
Zirconia brick beat steel or rubber on abrasive duties: steel erodes in months and can contaminate product, while rubber gouges under lump impact. Zirconia brick hold dimension, cut downtime and typically last 5–10× longer in mining, cement, steel, power-plant ash handling, chemical processing and lithium-battery material plants.
How do I select and specify zirconia brick?
Define the service temperature, fluid chemistry and tolerance; FIRSTAR supplies RBSiC/SiSiC sleeves, nozzles, cones and bricks to match.
Can zirconia brick handle thermal shock?
Yes. Reaction-bonded SiC tolerates rapid temperature changes and thermal cycling far better than most ceramics, making it reliable in hot, abrasive service. FIRSTAR grades it for your duty.
