Guides/Comparisons
Zirconia vs alumina ceramic
zirconia-vs-aluminaYSZ and Alumina (Al2O3) at a glance
This page compares YSZ and Alumina (Al2O3) using only values that carry a source, a test condition and an evidence level. Ranges run across temper, heat treatment and product form, measured at room temperature where the source says so.
- Density: zirconia is higher (zirconia 6.02 to 6.07 g/cm³; alumina 3.72 to 3.9 g/cm³), about 1.6 times the midpoint of alumina.
- Young's modulus: alumina is higher (zirconia 195 to 210 GPa; alumina 370 GPa), about 1.8 times the midpoint of zirconia.
- Thermal conductivity: alumina is higher (zirconia 2.2 to 3 W/(m·K); alumina 30 W/(m·K)), about 11.5 times the midpoint of zirconia.
- Service temperature: alumina is higher (zirconia 800 to 1,500 °C; alumina 1,750 °C), about 1.5 times the midpoint of zirconia.
- Thermal expansion: zirconia is higher (zirconia 9 to 10.3 ppm/K; alumina 8.2 ppm/K), about 1.2 times the midpoint of alumina.
"Higher" means the whole range is higher, not just one value. Where a value is a specified minimum, the table says "at least".
Side by side
| Property | YSZ | Alumina (Al2O3) |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 6.02 to 6.07 g/cm³ | 3.72 to 3.9 g/cm³ |
| Young's modulus | 195 to 210 GPa | 370 GPa |
| Thermal conductivity | 2.2 to 3 W/(m·K) | 30 W/(m·K) |
| Melting point | no data | 2,030 to 2,072 °C |
| Service temperature | 800 to 1,500 °C | 1,750 °C |
| Thermal expansion | 9 to 10.3 ppm/K | 8.2 ppm/K |
Composition
| Element | YSZ | Alumina (Al2O3) |
|---|---|---|
| Oxygen | not listed | 47.1% |
| Aluminium | not listed | 52.9% |
Shares are as printed in the sources, by weight.
When to use which
| Material | Best for | Weakest at |
|---|---|---|
| YSZ | Strong, tough wear parts and cutting edges that stay cool and dry (CoorsTek sintered YTZP: 1240 MPa and 13 MPa√m) | Hot water or steam: about 12% strength loss after hydrothermal ageing in a cited study; thermal shock limits of 200 to 350 °C |
| Alumina (Al2O3) | Hard, stiff, electrically insulating parts that must stay stable at high temperature (CoorsTek chart: AD-995 volume resistivity above 10^14 ohm-cm at 25 °C) | Brittle fracture and sudden temperature change (fracture toughness 4 to 5 MPa·m½ for AD-995; thermal shock temperature difference of 200 °C for Kyocera's 99% grade) |
Where each is used
| Material | Use |
|---|---|
| YSZ | Blades and cutting edges (wear parts) |
| YSZ | Pump and valve components, gas and oil field parts, solids handling |
| Alumina (Al2O3) | Semiconductor process chambers, wafer handling, laser devices and power tubes (ground industrial use) |
| Alumina (Al2O3) | Heat, corrosion and wear resistant parts (ground industrial use) |
| Alumina (Al2O3) | Sheath insulator layers for a thermionic space power system (ground reactor test, not flown) |
| Alumina (Al2O3) | Charge cup of the NASA standard initiator (thermal modelling, ground) |