White powder. Slightly soluble in water and hydrogen fluoride.
Zirconium tetrafluoride is used in some fluoridebased glasses. These glasses are the first chemically and mechanically stable bulk glasses to have continuous high transparency from the near uv to the mid-ir (0.3–6 μm).
Component of molten salts for nuclear reactors.
Zirconium fluoride is used as a zirconium source in oxygen-sensitive applications such as metal production.
Strong irritant. TLV: 2.5 mg(F)/m3.
Poison by intravenous
route. When heated to decomposition it
emits toxic fumes of F-. See also
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS and
FLUORIDES.
