Mineral sands are being used as the source material for new "high-tech" engineering materials. One such material, Magnesia Partially Stabilized Zirconia (PSZ) has been developed and patented world-wide by CSIRO._x000D_
Derived from zircon sands, the material is currently produced by Nilcra Ceramics in Australia and is exported world-wide._x000D_
The properties of the material are contrary to those generally accepted for ceramics and are far more akin to those of steel. The material resists not only abrasive wear, impact and thermal shock, but does so under corrosive conditions that frequently cause early failure of metal and cemented carbide._x000D_
While the consumption of mineral sands for the production of PSZ is not going to significantly increase the demand in the short term, the material itself may well assist the productivity and processing problems within the industry.