ZrH2

Zirconium hydride (ZrH2) is an intermetallic compound formed by hydrogen absorption into zirconium metal, creating a brittle ceramic-like material that sits at the boundary between metallic and hydride chemistry. It appears primarily in nuclear fuel cladding applications, where its role is to getter or trap hydrogen that could otherwise embrittle zirconium alloys, and in some research contexts as a neutron moderator or shielding material. ZrH2 is notable because it combines hydrogen storage capability with thermal stability, making it valuable in specialized nuclear and aerospace environments where hydrogen embrittlement poses operational risks.