Zirconium nitride explained

Zirconium nitride is an inorganic compound used in a variety of ways due to its properties.

Properties

ZrN grown by physical vapor deposition (PVD) is a light gold color similar to elemental gold. ZrN has a room-temperature electrical resistivity of 12.0 μΩ·cm, a temperature coefficient of resistivity of 5.6·10⁻⁸ Ω·cm/K, a superconducting transition temperature of 10.4 K, and a relaxed lattice parameter of 0.4575 nm. The hardness of single-crystal ZrN is 22.7±1.7 GPa and elastic modulus is 450 GPa.^[1]

Uses

Zirconium nitride is a hard ceramic material similar to titanium nitride and is a cement-like refractory material. Thus it is used in cermets and laboratory crucibles. When applied using the physical vapor deposition coating process it is commonly used for coating medical devices,^[2] industrial parts (notably drill bits), automotive and aerospace components and other parts subject to high wear and corrosive environments.

Zirconium nitride was suggested as a hydrogen peroxide fuel tank liner for rockets and aircraft.^[3]

Notes and References

1. 10.1116/1.4825349. Physical properties of epitaxial ZrN/MgO(001) layers grown by reactive magnetron sputtering. Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology A: Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films. 31. 6. 061516. 2013. Mei . A. B.. Howe . B. M.. Zhang . C.. Sardela . M.. Eckstein . J. N.. Hultman . L.. Rockett . A.. Petrov . I.. Greene . J. E.. 2013JVSTA..31f1516M.
2. Slate, A.J., Wickens, D.J., El Mohtadi, M. et al. Antimicrobial activity of Ti-ZrN/Ag coatings for use in biomaterial applications. Sci Rep 8, 1497 (2018). 2018 . 10.1038/s41598-018-20013-z . 29367635 . Slate . A. J. . Wickens . D. J. . El Mohtadi . M. . Dempsey-Hibbert . N. . West . G. . Banks . C. E. . Whitehead . K. A. . Scientific Reports . 8 . 1 . 1497 . 5784091 .
3. 7736751. US. Coating for components requiring hydrogen peroxide compatibility. 2010-06-15. Boeing Co.. Yousefiani . Ali.