High-Density YSZ Crucibles for Precious Metal Alloys & Reactive Glass
Zirconia (ZrO2) Crucibles
Stop losing valuable alloys to porous dry-pressed ceramics. Our slip-cast, Yttria-Stabilized Fused Zirconia (YSZ) crucibles deliver an ultra-dense, zero-penetration barrier for extreme environments up to 2200°C. Secure factory-direct, heavy-duty labware without the distributor markups.
Key Features of Zirconia Crucibles
Extreme Temp & Superior Wear Resistance
Operating safely at maximum temperatures of 2200°C - 2370°C, our zirconia delivers 5 to 6 times the wear resistance of standard alumina. It provides exceptional physical durability for heavy-duty metallurgical and powder processing environments.
Phase Stability & No Powdering
Pure zirconia degrades over time. By utilizing precision Yttria stabilization on our refractory-grade Fused Zirconia, we lock the crystal structure. This completely resolves the phase-transition powdering issue during prolonged high-temperature use.
Zero-Penetration for Reactive Alloys
Traditional slip-casting creates a completely densified, zero-water-absorption barrier. This physically prevents molten precious metal alloys and specialty glass from seeping into the crucible walls, eliminating expensive material loss and cross-contamination.
Factory-Direct Cost Control
Zirconia is a premium material (often 10x the cost of alumina), but you shouldn't pay 300% US distributor markups. Source directly from our manufacturing base to get industrial-grade YSZ at true factory prices.
Material Science
Understanding Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ)
Precision yttria modification engineered to eliminate high-temp powdering and block melt penetration.
The Fused Zirconia Advantage
We utilize specialized yellow Fused Zirconia stabilized with Yttria. Unlike basic chemical zirconia, this refractory-grade formulation locks into a stable phase, ensuring the crucible maintains its structural integrity and prevents powdering (degradation) even at extreme high temperatures.
The Power of Slip-Casting
We reject the micro-porosity of mass-produced dry-pressing. By relying entirely on labor-intensive slip-casting, we produce thick-walled, highly densified crucibles. While this traditional method yields standard industrial tolerances (±1-2mm) due to natural shrinkage, it guarantees the absolute zero-porosity required to hold reactive melts.
Advanced Energy Applications
Beyond mechanical dominance, YSZ transitions into an active oxygen ion conductor at temperatures >600°C. This specific phase stability makes our components critical for startups and labs developing next-generation solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) and high-temp sensors.
Performance Applications
Heavy-Duty Applications for Fused Zirconia
Engineered for extreme wear, 2200°C+ environments, and reactive melts where standard alumina fails.
Precious Metal Alloys & Glass
Zero-porosity slip-cast structure prevents molten alloys and specialty glass from penetrating the crucible walls.
Extreme High-Temp R&D
Operates reliably up to 2200°C for advanced materials synthesis without phase-transition powdering.
Heavy-Duty Powder Processing
Delivers 5 to 6 times the wear resistance of alumina, making it the ultimate carrier for aggressive abrasive handling.
Reactive Fluxes & Metallurgy
Highly inert fused zirconia resists severe chemical attack from corrosive slags and reactive metallurgical environments.
Material Specifications
Refractory-Grade Fused Zirconia (YSZ) Properties
Validated for extreme environments. Our slip-cast Fused Zirconia is phase-stabilized with Yttria (Y₂O₃), delivering maximum density to prevent alloy penetration and phase degradation up to 2200°C.
| Property | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Zirconia Content (ZrO₂) | 95% - 99.9% | % |
| Stabilizer | Y₂O₃: 3-8 mol% | - |
| Density | 6.0 - 6.1 | g/cm³ |
| Flexural Strength | 1150 - 1250 | MPa |
| Compressive Strength | 5500 | MPa |
| Elastic Modulus | 200 - 250 | GPa |
| Fracture Toughness | 8 - 10 | MPa·m¹/² |
| Vickers Hardness | >1300 (~HRA 87) | HV0.5 / HRA |
| Thermal Expansion | 9.6 - 10.1 | x10⁻⁶/K |
| Thermal Conductivity | 2.5 - 3.0 | W/m·K |
| Max. Operating Temp. | 2200 - 2370 | °C |
Factory-Direct Customization
Custom Zirconia Shapes & Prototyping
Need a non-standard size? We manufacture custom YSZ crucibles and boats to your specific dimensions through our heavy-duty slip-casting process, bypassing the massive prototyping costs of US middlemen.
- Made-to-Drawing Slip-Casting: We process your CAD/PDF drawings and optimize them for standard industrial tolerances (±1-2mm) to ensure maximum structural density.
- Zero-Penetration Structures: Delivering fully densified, zero-water-absorption custom labware built to hold reactive melts without chemical leaching or physical seepage.
- Aggressive Tooling Costs: Custom mold fees typically start under $400 and are fully refundable on batch orders (500+ pcs), ensuring low-risk R&D scaling.
