What is Cubic Zirconia

Zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) has a cubic crystalline form which is known as cubic zirconia. In many cases, it is found colorless but usually, it has many varieties of colors. It is a hard synthesized material and optically flawless. Zirconia word is famous in jewelry and it is interesting to know that because of its diamond-like appearance, it has remained a strong competitor of diamond in the market. The other reasons why it is used in jewelry is that it is low in cost and durable.

History of Cubic Zirconia:
From the analysis of cubic zirconium coil and by further thermal reactions on it, stabilized zirconia was formed in 1929. Detailed research on zirconia was done in 1937 and it was confirmed by using X-ray technology. According to some theories, on the initial discovery, zirconia was used as a ceramic material in some industries because of its high resistance to heat and electricity.


Technical Aspects:
The both, physical and optical, properties of synthesized cubic zirconia are variable as there could be a difference in the method of production among many manufacturers. It is crystallographically isomeric, which, as an important element, could be used instead of a diamond.

If the hardness of zirconia is measured on the Mohs scale, it is 8-8.5. According to research, it is slightly harder than many natural-gems. Its refractive index is 2.18 which is closer to diamond's refractive index.

Zirconia's value of dispersion is 0.0588-0.066 which is quite higher than that of the diamond. Its structure shows that it has no cleavage and does exhibit a conchoidal structure.

Zirconia shows different color behaviors under UV rays with long or short wavelengths. It was researched that only colored based cubic zirconia is able to show a very complex pattern of colors.

Conclusion:
The above-discussed information is basic which you should know about cubic zirconia and its technical aspects. Understanding and knowledge of this topic can help you differentiate between diamond and zirconium. This is important because there have been many cases of fraud where the jeweler sold zirconia instead of a diamond. It is obvious that you may not be able to identify the difference in the physical appearance of both substances.
However, a closer inspection and some simple experiments can help you to avoid any possible misunderstanding. These experiments can be some tests to judge the color patterns or refractive index of zirconia and diamond under different conditions.

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How To Select Platinum Crucibles

The laboratory vessels are expected to be used in the operations like calculations and melting. So before selecting a vessel, you should be very careful about some features of the vessels those are mandatory. The vessel should possess qualities like high-temperature strength, high melting point, oxidation resistance in air and oxygen, ductility and corrosion resistance ability.

Platinum is highly rarely available material, having a melting point of 1772 Celsius. The main benefit of using the material is that it has outstanding resistance to chemical attack.
Often it has been observed that if platinum is mixed with other material it can be more useful in certain ways. Platinum combined with five percent of gold will provide you greater temperature strength as compared to pure Platinum. Thus it is widely accepted as the best-suited material for the manufacture of crucible, thermal couple wire and casting molds. Sometimes platinum mixed with rhodium for the best result. These alloys provide superior hardness and greater strength than other platinum alloys to make them adjustable in more aggressive conditions. When platinum mixed with iridium content, the mechanical potency and thermal corrosion resistance power also increases with greater iridium content. However, care should be taken off the iridium as it suffers greater weight loss if open to the oxidizing atmospheres. Iridium is an outstanding material with extreme corrosion resistance and greater temperature strength as well as the melting point makes it the chosen material for an inert atmosphere oxide melts.

There are some Fusion Agents that can affect the rare material platinum in its smooth functioning. So be careful if you come across any of these materials. Just have knowledge how this material behalves and act accordingly. When platinum combined with Alkali fluorides, it has been seen that the loss of weight of platinum is very insignificant. If it comes with the contact of Alkali chlorides or alkali earth chlorides, they can attack the material with a1000EC temperature in the presence of air. As a result, it will release chlorine from the fused salt. If combined with Alkali Bisulfates, it can harm the material in slightly above 700EC. However, you can reduce the effect by adding ammonium sulfate.

So it is advisable that do not heat the materials of the unknown combination. There are some material if heated in platinum crucibles may cause the vessel to become brittle. The materials are arsenic, antimony, lead, selenium, phosphorus, tellurium and zinc. The material like all base metals including gold and silver will dissolve platinum when in their molten state.

It is very important to heat platinum crucibles always in an oxidizing atmosphere. And care should be taken to hold them in with the help of platinum-tipped tools only. Make sure that platinum should not be heated with another platinum material it may cause a weld of both the vessel. It is better to avoid a smoky flame. Carbon may cause it damage.

For more information about Platinum crucibles and other advanced materials, please visit http://www.samaterials.com/