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.