17 Hafnium Uses in Different Industries (Need To Know Facts)

Hafnium is a tetravalent transition metal element with an atomic number of 72 and a molar mass of 178.49 amu. Let us explore the industrial uses of different compounds of Hf in detail.

Hafnium (Hf) is used in different fields and they are-

• Hafnium is used in the filaments of electrodes.
• Hf can absorb neutrons. Therefore, it is applied to make control rods, found in nuclear submarines.
• Hf can be used in alloy formation with different metals like iron, titanium, and niobium due to having a high melting point.
• Hf is used in microphones as an insulator of electricity in microchips.
• Hafnium catalysts are used in various polymerization reactions.
• Hf is also used in microprocessors which is an important part of a computer, phones, etc.

This article discusses the applications of hafnium sponge, hafnium carbide, and hafnium oxide elaborately with some detailed explanations.

Hafnium Sponge Uses

Hafnium sponge is a grey-colored powdered or granular form of iridium metal with high purity (99.6%). Its uses in different fields are described below-

• Hafnium sponge is used as an oxygen getter and catalyst.
• Hafnium carbide sponge also has a wide variety of applications including heat exchangers, energy absorption, flow diffusion, and lightweight optics.

Hafnium Oxide Uses

Hafnium oxide, known as hafnia (HfO₂), is a colorless solid and one of the most stable compounds of hafnium. It has a wide range of applications in different fields.

• HfO₂ films are used in advanced metal-oxide-semiconductor devices.
• Hafnium oxide is applied in optical coatings and as a high-к dielectric in DRAM capacitors.
• Hafnia is used as a refractory material due to having a high melting point in the insulation of such devices as thermocouples to operate at temperatures up to 2500⁰ C.
• HfO₂ is a possible element for resistive switching memories and CMOS-compatible ferroelectric field effect transistors and memory chips.
• HfO₂ is also used as near UV-laser and dielectric mirror designs.

Hafnium Carbide Uses

Hafnium carbide is a chemical compound of hafnium and carbon with a very high melting point of 3958⁰ C and a high elasticity coefficient. Its uses are discussed in the following points.

• Hafnium carbide (HfC) is used in aerospace engineering as well as nozzle, high-temperature resistant lining, arc, or electrodes.
• HfC is also applied as an additive to cemented carbide.
• HfC is also used in solar applications and fuel cell.
• HfC has applications in coatings like hafnium carbide coating and is also used by processes such as plasma spraying.

Conclusion

Hafnium is a lustrous silvery-grey element that is placed in group 4 and period 6 and it has a resemblance with Zirconium (Zr) in physical and chemical properties. It is a d-block element with a high melting (2506 K) and boiling point (4876 K).

Read more about following uses in different industries

Hafnium Uses Arsenic Uses

Lead Uses Hydrogen Uses

Molybdenum Uses Neon Uses

Gold Uses

Antimony Uses