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Show The Metal of Mystery f ZIRCONIUM is a metal which has come into T- public notice rather recently and because of its many peculiar proportions has been called fc- metal of mystery. The compounds of zirconium K have numerous Important uses and more use3 Ijjx. will doubtless be found. Sintered or coherent zirconium metal is very resistive to acids; it can P be used for electrodes, and it probably will find H metallurgical uses. A steel containing zirconium If has been suggested for high-speed cutting tools t. and for cutlery. Numerous articles In scientific ir journals have recommended the use of zirconium oxide as a refractory, an abrasive, a pigment in r' paints and as an opaquing agent in enamel ware. r The salts have been used in the textile industry If. as a mordant or dye fixing agency, and also for B,' weighting silk. ZIrkitc firebrick are used for furnace lining as K well as for other purposes where a refractory hav- r ing a low coefficient of, expansion, high melting H point and maximum resistance to slag corrosion In I demanded. It has been used for polLshing pow- !' dens, insulators for both heat and electricity, and with fair success In the Nernst lamp. Being ab-solutely ab-solutely non-poisonous, zirconium oxide is find-ing find-ing a use in paints and lacquers, where its re-sistivlty re-sistivlty to physical and chomlcal agents is pro-,- ing highly valuable. As an abrasive, virocoula. H zirconium sillcide and zirconium carbide are sug- gested for a variety of uses, the carbide partlcu- larly for the diamond in cutting glass. Zirconium H oxide, because, of its non-toxic nature, is used In place of bismuth, nitrate or carbouate in Rontgen H therapv. It is also said to have some medicinal value. Zirconium oxide and nitratc'havo been suggested in the extraction of oxygen and nitro- gea from the air. There have been statements ; to the effect that the oxides may find uses as a H Qfler in the manufacture of rubber goods. Zircon is found in considerable amounts In fl many placer deposits derived from disintegration of granitic and pegmatic rocks. The best known 1 deposits in the United States are near Greeu Rler. Henderson County. N C. and in the Wichita Mountains, near Cache, Okla. |