Ceramics - MEL Chemicals

Ceramics

LUXFER GROUP MEL Chemicals site in the UK has been
manufacturing for over 75 years. It is the
Luxfer is a technology company with headquarters for business administration
operations around the world that and research and development of MEL. We
works closely with customers to find have an on-site team committed to scale up
innovative solutions to their needs for of new processes, taking us from laboratory
advanced materials, components and gas to full scale production rapidly.
containment. We excel in the development At the Manchester facility we continue
of materials and products for demanding to manufacture zirconium chemicals and
applications, drawing on our unrivalled oxide grades directly from the mineral
understanding of the metallurgy and ore. We manufacture a comprehensive
chemical properties of the materials in range of zirconium oxides and hydroxides;
which we specialise. with a variety of physical and chemical
characteristics. We also offer a full
The Luxfer Group manufactures range of doped materials and can tailor
products and components in aluminium, requirements to customers’ specifications
magnesium, titanium and carbon Located 5 miles from Manchester city
composites; and chemically-derived centre in the north west of England, the
compounds of zirconium. site enjoys excellent logistical links to all
geographic markets.
OUR BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY MEL Chemicals’ management systems in
the UK meet the requirements of ISO9001
Innovative solutions in material technology and ISO14001.

Setting the standard in gas containment MEL Chemicals is a division of MAGNESIUM ELEKTRON
LIMITED, registered in England and Wales No. 3141950.
Our aim is to develop close collaborative Registered Office: Anchorage Gateway, 5 Anchorage Quay
relationships with our customers so that we Salford M50 3XE UK.
understand their needs. We make available UK VAT Number GB668 2142 26
to them our unrivalled knowledge of light
metals and composite materials and our
technical expertise in manufacturing to
develop high-quality solutions to their
material and product needs.

The expertise of our people, gained from
our long history of extending properties and
enhancing the performance of our materials
to meet specific requirements, is the key to
our success. Our aluminium, magnesium,
zirconium, titanium and carbon products
are very much in tune with the demands of
today’s world, particularly in the healthcare,
environmental and protection sectors.

INC. Nikkei

The USA’s most experienced manufacturer Nikkei MEL is a joint venture between
and supplier of quality zirconium chemicals MEL Chemicals and Nippon Light Metal
and zirconium oxides, servicing the (NLM). Nikkei MEL produce zirconium sales
Americas and the world since 1974. and solutions (reactive chemicals) for the
MEL Chemicals Inc produce zirconia, doped Japanese market and act as a sales force for
zirconias and reactive chemicals in large other MEL materials in Japan.
quantities on multipurpose plants. Manufacturing facilities and offices are at
Besides zirconia, MEL Chemicals Inc. is the Shimizu works in Shizuoka, of Nippon
the exclusive distributor in the USA and Light Metal on the beautiful peninsula
Mexico for Keeling & Walker Ltd., a global of Miho.
leader in tin oxide expertise for ceramic and
advanced applications.
MEL Chemicals Inc is also developing
a range of new advanced materials for
medical and security applications
Located six miles from Flemington, New
Jersey on the eastern seaboard of the USA,
strategically close to major communication
links and the biggest industrial consumers.
MEL Chemicals Inc management system in
the USA meets the requirements of ISO/TS
16949:2002.

50μm

MELox Grade Yttria Doped
Zirconium Oxides

MEL Chemicals have developed a range MELox 3Y is available in high and low
of yttria doped zirconium oxides for use surface area grades, or with binders as a
in a variety of applications. These include ready to press powder. These materials
engineering ceramics, milling media, exhibit high strength and are suitable
oxygen sensors and solid oxide fuel cells. for most structural ceramic applications.
All of our MELox yttria doped zirconias are MELox 5Y is designed for use in oxygen
manufactured under stringent controls, sensors and demonstrates excellent
using a chemical process route that oxygen ion conductivity coupled with high
ensures high purity and a homogeneous strength. MELox 8Y exhibits the highest
distribution of yttria. The grades listed in level of oxygen ion conductivity in this
this brochure are our standard materials; series of products, and is often used as the
zirconia toughened alumina (ZTA) powders electrolyte in solid oxide fuel cells.
and other compositions (e.g. ceria zirconia)
are available, please contact us to discuss
your requirements.

TYPICAL PROPERTIES

Grade Y2O3 SiO2 Fe2O3 Sintered Average Surface
(%) (%) (%) Density particle area
MELox 3YPG Size (μm)
MELox 3YU 5.2 0.01 0.005 6.05* (m2g-1)
MELox 3YUL 5.2 0.01 0.005 6.05* 0.45
MELox 5Y 5.2 0.01 0.005 6.05* 17.0
MELox 8Y 8.0 0.01 0.005 >5.95* 0.45
13.6 0.01 0.005 >5.90* 17.0
0.45
8.0
0.45
7.0
0.45
7.0

*Sintered at 1450 °C

5nm

MELox Nanosize Undoped
and Yttria Doped Zirconias

MEL Chemicals produce a range of ultra-fine nano-dispersions.
These nano grades are typically supplied as an aqueous dispersion of ultra-
fine aggregates of nano crystals with a primary particle size of about 10nm.
No stabilisers are used to maintain the highly stable, dispersed nature of
these materials. The MELox nano grades are fully crystalline with solids
contents around 25% by weight, on an oxide basis.

TYPICAL PROPERTIES

Grade Y2O3 TiO2 SiO2 Fe2O3 pH Crystallite Phase
(%) (%) (%) (%)
MELox 5.3 0.01 0.01 0.005 Size (nm) Tetragonal /
Nanosize 3Y 7.5 0.01 0.01 0.005 Cubic
13.6 0.01 0.01 0.005
MELox 16.0 0.01 0.01 0.005 3-4 11-12 >98%
Nanosize 5Y
- 0.01 0.01 0.005 4-6 11 >98%
MELox
Nanosize 8Y 5-6 10 >99%

MELox 5-6 10 >99%
Nanosize 10Y
3-4 13 <1
UNDOPED

PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF THE OXIDE SLURRY
Based on the TEM below the average particle size is 15nm

0.5-12μm

MELox Magnesia Doped
Zirconium Oxide

MEL Chemicals produce a range of powder which contains binders, MELox Mg
magnesia doped zirconias that are designed can be redispersed and used in wet forming
for structural ceramic applications, where processes etc. Both these latter two grades
high strength and good resistance to have been milled to 1 micron and are
thermal shock are required. All three grades supplied as spray dried powders.
are manufactured under stringent controls
resulting in a dense powder of high As with our yttria doped zirconias, the
chemical purity and pure white colour. magnesia doped materials are produced
using a chemical processing route, ensuring
MELox SCMg3 is a coarse magnesia doped a homogeneous distribution of dopant
zirconia with an average particle size of 12 throughout the material.
microns and would usually be milled prior
to forming. MELox MgP is a pressing grade

TYPICAL PROPERTIES

Grade MgO SiO2 Fe2O3 Sintered Average Surface
(%) (%) (%) Density particle area
MELox SCMg3 Size (μm)
MELox MgP 3.3 0.10 0.01 N/A (m2g-1)
MELox Mg 3.3 0.10 0.01 >5.75* 12.0
3.3 0.10 0.01 0.5
5.74 1.0
3.5
1.0
3.5

*Sintered at 1720 °C

Monoclinic Zirconium
Oxides

MEL Chemicals produce a range of undoped, monoclinic zirconium
oxides. The grades vary in purity, particle size and surface area.
The S, SC and MS grades were developed for applications such as
engineering ceramics, wear parts, and refractories. The E grades were
designed for electronic applications. E101 and GL are the highest
purity materials in our monoclinic range; GL is our coarsest grade.

TYPICAL PROPERTIES

Grade ZrO2 SiO2 TiO2 Fe2O3 Average Surface
(%) (%) (%) (%) Particle Size Area
S (m2g-1)
SC15 99 0.12 0.15 0.01 (µm) 3.5
SC30 99 0.12 0.15 0.01 12.0 3.5
MS2 99 0.12 0.15 0.01 0.7 2.0
MS5 99 0.12 0.15 0.01 12.0 5.0
E15 99 0.12 0.15 0.01 1.0 4.0
E20 99 0.12 0.15 0.01 1.0 5.0
E30 99 0.12 0.15 0.01 0.6 4.0
E101 99 0.12 0.15 0.01 1.0 4.0
99 0.01 0.01 0.005 12.0 20.0
GL 99 0.01 0.01 0.005 0.8 1.0
20.0

For Europe and the Far East (excluding Japan)

P.O. Box 6
Lumns Lane
Manchester
M27 8LS
ENGLAND
Phone: +44 (0)161 911 1066
Fax: +44 (0)161 911 1090
Email: [email protected]

For North and South America

INC.

500 Barbertown Point Breeze Road
Flemington
NJ08822
USA
Phone: +1 908 782 5800
Fax: +1 908 782 7768

For Japan

Nikkei

4025-1 Miho
Shimizu – ku
Shizuoka City
Shizuoka Prefecture
424 – 0901
Japan
Phone: +81 (0) 543 364333
Fax: +81 (0) 543 364370

Website: www.zrchem.com