Q: Why does Zirconia cost more than Alumina?

A:  1) Raw material cost: Aluminia is far more abundant, whereas Yttrium oxide which is a stabilizer for Zirconia ceramic, is a rare earth element.

2) Shaping costs: Due to its higher density it takes approximately 10x longer to grind down and shape Zirconia into parts.

3) Higher sintering temperatures:  The thermal shock resistance for Zirconia is poor so it requires a more costly sintering process.

Q: What advantages does Zirconia have over Alumina?

A:   Usually for most high temperature or electric insulator applications where ceramics are needed, alumina ceramic fasteners are the most popular choice due to their properties and relatively affordable price compared to zirconia fasteners. However sometimes the extreme properties of zirconia fasteners are needed which include:

• Higher material density provides greater wear and corrosion resistance
• Higher strength
• Higher temperature resistance