Zirconium
| Zirconium | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Properties | |
| Type | Element |
| Exists in Reality | Yes |
| Atomic Number | 40 |
"Do you like how I dance? I've got zirconium pants!"
Zirconium is a rare earth metal with special properties, including high resistance to corrosion, high melting point, and overall strength. It has niche uses, but is still useful.
Production
Zirconium obtainable through splinters (which function the same as nuggets) acquired from centrifuging or acidizing then centrifuging rare earth ore.
Zirconium also has a "depth" ore, which while it functions similarly to a regular ore, it cannot be directly smelted and needs to be destroyed by an explosion in order to be picked up.
Bombarding strontium with lithium in a cyclotron produces it.
      
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Uses
- Catalytic filters for carbon monoxide gas masks.
- PWR fuel rods and neutron reflectors.
- Skin of RBMK fuel rods and the binders for zirconium fast breeders (ZFBs).
- Zirconium pants.
- ZIRNOX fuel rods.