Refractory Backup & Custom Granular Materials
Refractory Backup &
Custom Granular Materials

Engineered for a Wide Range of Extreme Environments

Refractory backup (also known as thermal insulation and grog) and custom granular Zirconium Oxide materials are available in unstabilized (pure) form or stabilized (combined) with yttrium oxide, magnesium oxide or calcium oxide for structural stability.

While pure zirconia has limited refractory applications, the stabilized granular forms are engineered to withstand breakdown due to extreme thermal shock and thermal cycling.

Stabilization Types and Application Guidelines

Zircoa’s refractory backup and granular materials are comprised of porous, irregularly shaped particles. The materials are available in a variety of banded or down mesh sizes. Custom milled materials as small as 0.5 microns are also available.

Zircoa’s granular materials possess excellent insulating properties. They have approximately five times the insulating value of alumina or magnesia. As an example: when used as a crucible backup (also known as grog) Zircoa granular materials will extend crucible life and result in cleaner melts.

Refractory Backup (Thermal Insulation)

Extend the life of your furnace, and maintain tighter control over your furnace temperatures with Zircoa’s pre-sintered grog refractory backup (www.zircoa.com/grog).

Refractory Backup Types & Sizes

  1. Zircoa Backup 1859 — Partially stabilized with magnesia and calcia. Available in -8+100 Tyler mesh size.
  2. Zircoa Backup 3001 — Partially stabilized with magnesia. Available in -8+28 Tyler mesh size.
  3. Zircoa Backup 10B – Calcia stabilized bubble zirconia. Available in -10+30 Tyler mesh size.

Specifications

Typical Properties

  Yttria Stabilized Products Magnesia Stabilized
Products 
Dual Stabilized Products Monoclinic
Products
SiO2 0.5 08. - 1.5 2.0 0.2 - 1.25
CaO 0.2 0.45 4.50 Total CaO + MgO 0.20 - 0.75
MgO 0.05 1.70 - 3.50 0.1 - 0.35
Fe2O3 0.2 0.2 0.20 0.20
Al2O3 0.1 0.3 0.25 0.30
TiO2 0.1 0.2 0.20 0.25
Y2O3 7.0 - 9.0 --- --- ---

Typical Screen Analyses

  Mesh Size (Tyler) % (max or range)
-3+6 +3 10
-3 +3.5 10-40
-3.5 +4 20-50
-4 +6 10-40
-6 +8 5-35
-8 20
-6 Mesh +6 10
-6 +8 10-40
-8 +14 20-50
-14 +28 10-40
-28 +48 5-35
-48 +100  0-25
-100 30
-8 Mesh +8 1
-8 +14 32
-14 +28 13-45
-28 +48 20-45
-48 +100 43
-325 11
-14 Mesh +14 0
-14 +28 10-40
-28 +48 15-25
-48 +100 15-30
-100 +325 20-40
-325 0-10
-28 Mesh +8 0
+14 0
-14 +28 0-9
-28 +48 27-72
-48 +100 18-36
-100 +325 4-35
-325 0-10
-100 Mesh +48 1
-48 +100 5
-325 25
-325 Mesh +200 5
(Wet Screen) +325 15