Zirconium sponge is a porous, metallic material made up of small, irregularly-shaped particles of zirconium. It is produced by the reduction of zirconium tetrachloride or zirconium oxychloride using magnesium or sodium as a reducing agent. Zirconium sponge is a key intermediate product in the production of zirconium alloys, which are widely used in the nuclear, aerospace, and chemical industries due to their high strength, corrosion resistance, and low neutron absorption properties. Zirconium sponge is typically further processed into ingots, billets, or other forms through a variety of methods, including vacuum arc melting, electron beam melting, and powder metallurgy techniques.