Unlike traditional ceramics that tend to be hard and brittle, Zirconia has high strength, wear resistance, and flexibility far beyond those of most other technical ceramics. Zirconia is a very strong technical ceramic with excellent properties in hardness and corrosion resistance, all without the typical property of ceramics – brittleness. Its unique resistance to crack propagation and high thermal expansion make it an excellent material for joining ceramics with metals like steel. Due to Zirconia’s properties it is sometimes referred to as the “Ceramic steel”.

Zirconia Properties:

- High strength
- High fracture toughness 
- impact resistant
- High hardness
- Wear resistant
- Good frictional behavior
- Electrical insulator
- Low thermal conductivity 
- thermal insulator
- Corrosion resistance in acids and alkalis
- Modulus of elasticity similar to steel
- Coefficient of thermal expansion similar to iron

Zirconia Applications

- Wire forming/drawing dies
- Insulating rings in thermal processes
- Precision shafts and axles in high wear environments
- Furnace process tubes
- Wear resistance pads
- Thermocouple protection tubes
- Sandblasting nozzles
- Refractory material
- Extrusion dies
- Bushings and caps
- Kiln furniture crucible
- Fiber optic ferrules and sleeves
- Knives and blades
- Fuel cell parts
- Bearings & rollers
- Welding nozzles & pins
- Laser parts
- Gas igniters
- Electric insulator
- Ceramic guiders
- Oxygen sensors
- Medical and surgical component
- Mechanical seals
- Pumps, pistons, and liners