Where are zirconium and zirconium alloys extensively applied?

Nuclear power industry dominates zirconium consumption, producing fuel cladding tubes and core structural components for pressurized water reactors to ensure safe nuclear fission operation. Marine and desalination equipment uses zirconium pipes and vessels to resist long-term seawater and chloride corrosion without anti-rust coating. Chemical plants adopt zirconium reaction kettles for hypochlorite and organic acid production lines. Zirconium also serves sputtering targets for semiconductor coating processes, relying on its uniform film-forming property and stable chemical inertness.