We produce a range of zirconia and ceramic powders engineered for high-temperature and corrosion-resistant applications. Our product lines include stabilized and monoclinic zirconia, alumina zirconia, mullite, and silica fume, all designed to meet the demands of industries such as glass, steel, foundry, automotive, aerospace, and medical casting.

The best choice depends on your operating temperature, chemical environment, and mechanical or thermal cycling requirements.

• Zirconia → Extreme temperature and corrosion resistance
• Alumina zirconia → Superior wear and strength under stress
• Mullite → Lightweight insulation and thermal stability
• Silica fume → Additive for improved density and strength in castables

Our team can provide guidance based on your specific process conditions.
 

We offer a range of particle sizes, from micron to coarse grains, depending on application—fine powders for coatings and composites, and coarser grains for refractory castables or bricks.

Bubble: Hollow spherical particles; lightweight and insulating, used in thermal barriers and insulation bricks.

Dense: Solid, high-purity grains with excellent wear and corrosion resistance for crucibles, linings, and castables.

Powder: Fine powders for mixing into refractory formulations, coatings, or composite materials.

Yes. We work with customers to develop tailored materials and blends to meet specific thermal, mechanical, or processing requirements. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

Zirconia exhibits excellent chemical inertness, minimizing contamination and erosion when in contact with molten glass or metal. The choice of stabilization and microstructure ensures long-term performance in these harsh environments.

Yes. Our materials are designed for compatibility with common refractory binders and additives. We can help optimize your formulation to achieve desired density, porosity, and thermal performance.

Our zirconia and ceramic powders are also used in:

Automotive: As additives in brake pads and friction materials.
Aerospace: For high-temperature casting molds.
Electronics: As insulating or structural ceramics.
Medical: For precision casting of orthopedic parts.
Optics: Our grade AZ25 is the material of choice for lens scratch resistance testing.
 

Zirconia (zirconium dioxide, ZrO₂) is a ceramic material valued for its high melting point, chemical inertness, and exceptional thermal shock resistance. In refractories, it provides stability in extreme temperatures, making it ideal for glass furnaces, steel tundishes, and high-performance crucibles.

Monoclinic zirconia is a pure form of ZrO₂, naturally stable at room temperature.  It exhibits spontaneous phase transformation at 1170°C and 2370°C, which comes with a slight volumetric change. It is suitable for applications where cost efficiency and thermal expansion tolerance are acceptable.

Stabilized zirconia contains additives such as yttria, calcia, or magnesia to stabilize a cubic or tetragonal crystal structure. This offers higher thermal shock resistance, mechanical strength, and phase stability under cycling heat conditions.

Monoclinic zirconia is typically chosen for its lower cost and suitability for static high-temperature environments. Stabilized zirconia is preferred in applications with frequent temperature fluctuations or mechanical stress, where long-term stability and resistance to cracking are critical.

• Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ, YZ): Offers excellent phase stability, corrosion resistance, and performance at high temperatures—ideal for glass contact and high-end refractory applications.
• Calcia-stabilized zirconia (CSZ, NSZ, NCZ): Provides strong thermal shock resistance and a good cost-to-performance ratio, commonly used in steel and foundry refractories.
• Yttria/calcia co-stabilized zirconia (YCZ, YCZ3): Combines the benefits of both stabilizers—enhanced thermal stability from yttria and improved shock resistance and sintering behavior from calcia—resulting in a balanced solution for demanding high-temperature applications.
• Magnesia-stabilized zirconia (MSZ): Known for durability and compatibility with steel slags, making it suitable for metallurgical environments with thermal cycling.

The optimal stabilizer depends on your operating temperature, chemical environment, and mechanical stress.

• YSZ is ideal for glass contact and electronic applications.
• CSZ suits general-purpose refractories and steel industry linings.
• YCZ provides a tailored balance of stability and performance when both thermal cycling and corrosion resistance are key.
• MSZ excels in harsh metallurgical conditions.

Our technical team can help identify the best grade for your specific process conditions.

Alumina zirconia (AZ) is a composite material combining alumina (Al₂O₃) and zirconia (ZrO₂). The two oxides create a fine-grained microstructure that offers both the hardness of alumina and the toughness of zirconia.

AZ materials provide exceptional wear and corrosion resistance, high strength, and improved thermal shock resistance compared to pure alumina. These properties make them ideal for use in glass contact refractories, high-stress steel processing zones, and erosion-resistant linings. Its superior wear and strength under stress are particularly advantageous for slide gates used in continuous casting of steel.

We offer 25% zirconia and 40% zirconia AZ grades, allowing customers to balance cost, toughness, and corrosion resistance depending on their process needs. Our AZ25K and AZ40K grades are calcined for improved density, thermal stability and corrosion resistance.

Beyond glass and steel, AZ materials are used in abrasive grains, grinding wheels, and polishing applications due to their combination of cutting power and durability. To learn more about the uses of AZ in abrasive applications, visit our site for Saint-Gobain Abrasive Grains.

Mullite (3Al₂O₃·2SiO₂) is a naturally stable alumino-silicate phase valued for its excellent thermal stability, low thermal expansion, and resistance to chemical attack at high temperatures. It’s a key component in many refractory linings, kiln furniture, and foundry molds.

Mullite offers a combination of lightweight insulation, creep resistance, and dimensional stability at elevated temperatures, making it suitable for continuous service environments.

Mullite is widely used in glass production, brake pads, ceramics manufacturing, and metal casting, especially where long-term resistance to slag or molten glass is required.

Silica fume is an ultrafine byproduct created when refining zircon sand into zirconia, composed of amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO₂). It has an extremely small particle size and high surface area, which make it a valuable performance additive.

In refractory castables and monolithics, silica fume acts as a reactive binder, improving particle packing, density, and mechanical strength while reducing porosity. It also enhances hot strength and slag resistance.