Hafnium(Hf)

MetalsTek Engineering is a leading supplier of Hafnium products. We offer competitive pricing and great lead times on all our materials, and we can supply custom materials per any specs/drawings you provide us with.

Hafnium (Hf), a transition metal with a lustrous silver-grey appearance and notable ductility, is commonly present in most zirconium minerals. The close chemical resemblance between hafnium and zirconium makes their separation challenging.

Hafnium is used in filaments and electrodes. Some semiconductor fabrication processes use its oxide for integrated circuits at 45 nanometers and smaller feature lengths. Some superalloys used for special applications contain hafnium in combination with niobium, titanium, or tungsten.

Most of the hafnium produced is used in the manufacture of control rods for nuclear reactors. Hafnium’s large neutron capture cross section makes it a good material for neutron absorption in control rods in nuclear power plants, but at the same time requires that it be removed from the neutron-transparent corrosion-resistant zirconium alloys used in nuclear reactors.

MetalsTek Supplies:

Hafnium Metal

Shapes: foil, wire, and customized

Hafnium Crystal Bar

High-purity hafnium crystal bar

Hafnium Properties

Phase At STP	Solid	Electrical Resistivity	331 nΩ⋅m (20°C)
Melting Point	2,506 K (2,233°C, 4,051°F)	Magnetic Ordering	Paramagnetic
Tensile Strength	485Mpa/70,300psi	Young'S Modulus	78 GPa
Density (Near R.T.)	13.31 g/cm³	Shear Modulus	30 GPa
Appearance	Shiny Silvery Metallic	Bulk Modulus	110 GPa
Heat Of Fusion	27.2 kJ/mol	Poisson Ratio	0.37
Heat Of Vaporization	648 kJ/mol	Mohs Hardness	5.5
Molar Heat Capacity	25.73 J/(mol·K)	Vickers Hardness	1,520–2,060 MPa
Thermal Expansion	5.9 µm/(m⋅K) (at 25°C)	Brinell Hardness	1,450–2,100 MPa
Thermal Conductivity	23.0 W/(m⋅K)	Cas Number	7440-58-6

Applications

Hafnium, prized for its unique properties, is utilized in various industries for diverse applications:

Nuclear Industry:

Aerospace and Superalloys:

Catalysts and Chemical Industry:

Electronics:

Medical Devices:

Research and Development:

Hafnium’s distinct properties, particularly its neutron-capture capabilities in nuclear reactions, contribute significantly to its specialized applications in aerospace, electronics, medical fields, and industrial processes, playing a pivotal role in technological advancements across various sectors.

The sister elements: Zirconium & Hafnium

Zirconium and hafnium, closely related elements sharing several chemical properties, are commonly found together due to their similar atomic structures and properties:

Physical and Chemical Similarities

Distinguishing Factors:

Uses in Industry: Zirconium is commonly utilized in various industries, especially in nuclear reactors, due to its resistance to corrosion and heat. Meanwhile, hafnium has specialized applications, particularly in control rods for nuclear reactors owing to its high neutron-absorbing capabilities.
Properties: Zirconium is highly resistant to corrosion, making it suitable for diverse applications in chemical processing, aerospace, and medical implants. Hafnium, known for its high thermal neutron capture cross-section, finds exclusive use in controlling nuclear reactions.

Separation Process:

Despite their close association and similarities, zirconium and hafnium serve distinct purposes in various industrial applications, particularly in the nuclear, aerospace, and chemical processing sectors, owing to their unique properties and characteristics.

For more about Zirconium, please click Zirconium Products.