Hard Wearing Nilcra® Zirconia in Pump Applications

Boost Pump Performance with Nilcra^® Zirconia

Durability. Efficiency. Reliability. Across Industries.
Pumps are critical to fluid handling in oil & gas, mining, food processing, personal care, chemical manufacturing, and wastewater treatment. But abrasive media, corrosion, and wear can drastically reduce pump life and efficiency. That’s where Nilcra^® Zirconia Wear rings, liners, open impellors and more, extend life drastically. 

Why Nilcra® Zirconia?

• Extreme Wear Resistance: Solid ceramic construction ensures consistent wear rates
• Corrosion Resistance: Performs in harsh chemical and saline environments
• Thermal Compatibility: Coefficient of thermal expansion similar to steel
• No Swelling: Unlike composites, Nilcra^® Zirconia remains dimensionally stable
• Food-Grade Certified: Safe for use in food and beverage processing environments
• Easy Substitution: Fits existing metal part designs with minimal re-engineering

Industry Applications

Oil & Gas

As wells mature, sand content rises, turning crude into an abrasive slurry. Traditional metal components wear quickly, leading to frequent overhauls and costly downtime.
With Nilcra^® Zirconia’s unique combination of hardness and toughness, wear rings, throttle bushes and linings can outlast all other components within multistage pumps preventing premature pump servicing.

Case Study – Bass Strait Operations

A refurbished BB3 8-stage Multistage centrifugal pump fitted with Nilcra^® Zirconia components showed 4× longer life compared to stainless steel parts.
Over 50 pumps retrofitted Worldwide , saving on downtime maintaining pump efficiency and boosting production.

Mining & Slurry Handling

Highly abrasive slurries in nickel, copper, and mineral processing wear down pump internals rapidly.

Case Study – Nickel Operations

A pump handling hot ammonium carbonate slurry saw metal sleeves fail in 5 weeks. The best of Ceramic coatings lasted 8–10 weeks. After employing solid  Nilcra^® Zirconia sleeves extended service life to 12 months - a 10× improvement.

Wastewater & Environmental

Composite materials like Ferobestos swell and degrade quickly in wet environments, causing friction and wear.

Case Study – Longford, Australia

Ferobestos sleeves lasted 1–2 months. After switching to Nilcra^® Zirconia, lifespan increased to 4+ years, with significantly reduced maintenance.

Food & Beverage Processing

Acidic ingredients like tomatoes, citrus, and vinegar corrode stainless steel components in pumps. Nilcra^® Zirconia is food-grade certified, chemically inert, and corrosion-resistant - ideal for hygienic applications.

Example Use Case

In tomato paste processing, steel components showed pitting and corrosion within months. Nilcra^® Zirconia wear rings-maintained integrity and sealing gaps for over a year, reducing contamination risk and maintenance downtime.

Personal Care & Abrasive Fluids

Toothpaste, creams, and slurries often contain abrasive particles like silica, which wear down pump internals quickly.

Example Use Case

A toothpaste manufacturer replaced metal bushings with Nilcra^® Zirconia in their transfer pumps. The result: 3× longer service life, improved sealing, and reduced energy consumption.