Zirconium silicate

Synonyms

Zircon; A-PAX-SA; Excelopax; MZ 1000B; Micro-Pax; Micro-Pax 20A; Micro-Pax SP; Oscal 1224; Silicon zirconium oxide (SiZrO4); Tam 418; Zircon 30MY; Zirconium orthosilicate (ZrSiO4); Zirconium silicon oxide (ZrSiO4); Zircosil; Zircosil 1; Silicic acid, zirconium(4+) salt; Silicic acid (H4SiO4), zirconium(4+) salt (1:1); [ChemIDplus] Zirconium (IV) silicate; [MSDSonline]

Category

Metals, Inorganic Compounds

Description

Colorless solid; [Merck Index] Grey powder; [MSDSonline]

Sources/Uses

Used in refractories, ceramics, glazes, cements, coatings for casting molds, polishing materials, gemstones, and cosmetics; Also used as a catalyst and silicone rubber stabilizer; [Merck Index] Occurs in nature as the mineral zircon; Used as a refractory, abrasive, and to make ceramic glazes and enamels; Also used in the steel and glass industries and in foundries to make molds; [Ullmann]

Comments

An irritant; "Prolonged inhalation may cause pulmonary fibrosis known as silicosis." [MSDSonline] "Silicosis is caused by inhalation of dust containing particles of crystalline silica in the respirable size range." Some non-crystalline forms of silica are relatively nontoxic. [APHA, p. 446] See "Zirconium."

Biomedical References

5 mg/m3, as Zr

10 mg/m3, as Zr

5 mg/m3, as Zr (compounds)

1 mg/m3, inhalable fraction (metal and insol. cmpds.)

25 mg/m3, as Zr

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Abrasive Blasting
• Glass Manufacturing
• Molding and Core Making
• Steel Producing

Activities

Activities with risk of exposure:

• Ceramics making
• Enameling