702 Zirconium Tubes for Chemical Industry

Zirconium tubes are special rare metal tubular materials made from high-purity metallic zirconium (Zr) or zirconium alloys through vacuum melting, hot working, precision cold working, vacuum heat treatment, and full-process non-destructive testing. They are divided into two main categories: seamless zirconium tubes and welded zirconium tubes. With their extremely low thermal neutron absorption cross-section, exceptional corrosion resistance, excellent high-temperature stability, and pressure-bearing capacity, zirconium tubes are an irreplaceable core structural material for extreme working conditions such as nuclear industry and chemical corrosion protection. They are also the most widely used core product form in the global zirconium material industry chain.

I. Core Brands and Classifications

II. Key Core Performance

Unique Nuclear Properties: Pure zirconium has a thermal neutron absorption cross-section of only 0.18 Å, resulting in extremely low neutron capture efficiency that ensures stable chain reactions in nuclear reactors. It also possesses excellent resistance to radiation and high-temperature water corrosion, making it the only mainstream substrate for nuclear reactor fuel cladding.

Exceptional Corrosion Resistance: From room temperature to 200℃, its resistance to hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, organic acids, and strong alkalis far surpasses that of 304/316 stainless steel and titanium. Even under extreme conditions such as boiling 10% sodium hydroxide solution and 70% sulfuric acid, it maintains an extremely low corrosion rate and can withstand long-term exposure to highly corrosive chemical environments.

Excellent mechanical and pressure-bearing properties: Industrial-grade R60702 zirconium tubes have a room temperature tensile strength ≥413MPa, yield strength ≥241MPa, and elongation ≥20%; at 400℃, the strength retention rate exceeds 80%. Combined with precise wall thickness design, it is suitable for high-pressure heat exchange, fluid transportation, and other pressure-bearing applications. Its cold and hot working properties are close to those of low-carbon steel.

Stable physical and chemical properties: Density 6.51g/cm³, melting point 1852℃, boiling point 4409℃. At room temperature, a dense and continuous zirconium oxide passivation film spontaneously forms on the surface, isolating it from corrosive media. At high temperatures, it has strong affinity for oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen; processing and welding must be carried out under vacuum or inert gas protection.

Good biocompatibility: Medical-grade high-purity zirconium tubes, after surface passivation treatment, meet the ISO 10993 standard for cytotoxicity. After implantation, there are no sensitization or rejection reactions, and it exhibits excellent osseointegration performance, making it suitable for high-end medical device manufacturing.

III. Production Process and Supply Status

1. Core Production Flow

Seamless Zirconium Tubes (Mainstream): Sponge Zirconium → Multiple Vacuum Consumable Arc Melting Ingot Casting → β-Phase Forging → Hot Extrusion to Form Tube Billets → Multi-Pass Cold Rolling/Cold Drawing Precision Forming → Vacuum Stress-Relief Annealing → Straightening → Surface Treatment (Pickling/Passivation/Polishing) → Ultrasonic/Edge Current/Hydrostatic Non-Destructive Testing → Finished Product Inspection and Warehousing.

Welded Zirconium Tubes: Zirconium Strip/Plate Slitting → Forming → Vacuum/Inert Gas Protected Continuous Welding → Weld Heat Treatment → Sizing and Straightening → Non-Destructive Testing → Finished Product, suitable for large-diameter, low-pressure applications.

Nuclear-grade Zirconium Tube Production Requires Additional Strict Control of Compositional Uniformity, Hydride Orientation, and Grain Size, with Full Cleanliness Management and at Least 3 Melting Rounds to Ensure Nuclear-Grade Performance Requirements.

2. Mainstream Supply Status
Delivery Status: Recrystallized annealed state (M) (good plasticity, balanced performance, general application), cold-worked state (Y) (high strength, excellent dimensional accuracy, precision structural parts);
Surface Status: Pickled surface, bright annealed surface, mechanically polished surface, passivated surface (four types), customizable upon request.

Quality Control and Testing

Each product undergoes rigorous inspection before shipment:

Dimensional Inspection: Precise measurement of thickness, length, and width

Chemical Composition and Mechanical Property Analysis: Third-party testing reports

Surface Inspection: Visual and microscopic inspection for defects

Ultrasonic Testing: Detection of internal defects

Why Choose Us

Technology and Quality: Located in Baoji, China's Titanium Valley, we possess professional production technology and extensive experience in non-ferrous metal manufacturing.

Global Coverage: We provide consistently high-quality products to customers in Australia, South Korea, Germany, the USA, the UK, Malaysia, and the Middle East.

Quality Commitment: We never compromise on quality and are responsible for every product we manufacture.

Technical Support: We have professional personnel overseeing the entire process from raw materials to finished products!

Contact Us
Our team is dedicated to serving you and hopes that every product you purchase will meet your expectations!

Email: lucky@bjfreelong.com

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Please contact us for detailed quotations and technical specifications. We look forward to becoming your trusted high-end titanium materials partner.