Q: Why does Zirconia cost more than Alumina?
A: 1.) Raw material cost. Alumina 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.