Zirconium hydride
Agent Name
Zirconium hydride
CAS Number
7704-99-6
Formula
H2-Zr
Major Category
Metals
Synonyms
Zirconium dihydride; Zirconium hydride (ZrH2); [ChemIDplus] UN1437
Category
Metals, Inorganic Compounds
Description
Grey-black metallic solid; [Merck Index] Dark grey odorless powder; [MSDSonline] Inert in air and water at room temperature; [Ullmann]
Sources/Uses
Used as a metal foaming agent, nuclear moderator, reducing agent, and catalyst; [Hawley] Has been used as a moderator in nuclear reactors; Also used in storage batteries; [Ullmann]
Comments
Dangerous fire risk; [Hawley] Highly flammable; A strong reducing agent; Reacts slowly with water forming zirconium hydroxide (caustic) and hydrogen gas (flammable); [CAMEO] Liberates extremely flammable gases on contact with water; An irritant; [MSDSonline] See "Zirconium."
Biomedical References
Exposure Assessment
TLV (ACGIH)
5 mg/m3, as Zr
STEL (ACGIH)
10 mg/m3, as Zr
PEL (OSHA)
5 mg/m3, as Zr (compounds)
MAK
1 mg/m3, inhalable fraction (metal and insol. cmpds.)
IDLH (NIOSH)
25 mg/m3, as Zr
Diseases, Processes, and Activities Linked to This Agent
Processes
Industrial Processes with risk of exposure: