Zirconium dioxide for aesthetic reasons, or of 2) strong, extremely durable dental prostheses constructed entirely from monolithic zirconia, with limited but constantly improving aesthetics. Zirconia stabilized with yttria (yttrium oxide), known as yttria-stabilized zirconia, can be used as a strong base material in some full ceramic crown restorations. Transformation toughened zirconia is used to make ceramic knives. Because of the hardness, ceramic-edged cutlery stays sharp longer than steel edged products. Due to its infusibility and brilliant luminosity when incandescent, it was used as an ingredient of sticks for limelight. Zirconia has been proposed to electrolyze carbon monoxide and oxygen from the atmosphere
Zirconia Toughened Alumina lower cost. Depending on the percentage that is Zirconium, the properties of this ceramic can be manipulated for the applications required. Zirconia Toughened Alumina is generally referred as the intermediary between Alumina and Zirconium and as priced as such. This gives the ZTA a much lower price range than other similar materials. The increase in composite strength is done by a process called Stress Induced Transformation Toughening. This process causes internal strains, which causes crack in the structure of the Zirconium. Because of the crack, the Zirconium particles allowed to switch phases and move more freely amongst the Alumina particles.