zirconium oxide

American  

noun

1. Chemistry. a white, heavy, amorphous, odorless and tasteless, infusible, water-insoluble powder, ZrO 2 , used chiefly as a pigment for paints, an abrasive, and in the manufacture of refractory crucibles.

---

zirconium oxide British  

noun

1. Also called: zirconia.  a white amorphous powder that is insoluble in water and highly refractory, used as a pigment for paints, a catalyst, and an abrasive. Formula: ZrO 2

---

Etymology

Origin of zirconium oxide

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

In a process he and colleagues developed, the VFAs are vaporized, then percolate over a bed of white, marble-size pellets of zirconium oxide, which knit the VFAs into longer chains called ketones.

From Science Magazine • Jun. 22, 2022

Although the wires in natural enamel feature a magnesium-rich coating, the researchers upgraded to zirconium oxide, which is extremely strong and still nontoxic, Kotov says.

From Science Magazine • Feb. 2, 2022

Unlike most hydrogen fuel cells, they require no precious metals; Bloom uses zirconium oxide powder, which is readily found in beach sand.

From BusinessWeek • Jan. 20, 2011

It is lined with some such high-melting-point material as graphite or zirconium oxide.

From Time Magazine Archive

On one is a tiny speck of zirconium oxide.

From Time Magazine Archive