Zirconia Toughened Alumina (ZTA) is a composite ceramic material that combines the benefits of alumina (Al₂O₃) and Zirconia (ZrO₂). By introducing a controlled amount of zirconia into the alumina matrix, ZTA significantly enhances mechanical performance, particularly in terms of fracture toughness and bending strength while maintaining the favorable properties of alumina such as hardness, wear resistance, and thermal stability.

This material achieves its improved toughness through the same transformation toughening mechanism found in zirconia: under stress, metastable zirconia particles in the alumina matrix undergo a phase change that generates localized volume expansion, effectively halting crack propagation. This makes ZTA an excellent choice for mechanically demanding applications where pure alumina might be too brittle.

ZTA is widely used in applications requiring high reliability and resistance to wear and fracture, including medical instruments, wear-resistant components, and positioning tools. It is also a popular material for custom components where the right balance of hardness and toughness is essential.

We offer CNC machining and 3D printing of ZTA components, and can tailor the zirconia content to meet your specific performance requirements.