Properties
Hafnium is a non-noble, corrosion-resistant heavy metal with a silvery sheen. In almost all other respects, the metal resembles its lighter homologue zirconium. In high purities, it is relatively soft and flexible.
Applications
The main field of application is nuclear engineering, where hafnium is used as a control rod for regulating the chain reaction in nuclear reactors. When burned, the metal emits a very bright light. This makes it possible to use hafnium in flashlights with a particularly high light output.