This section provides an overview for zirconia as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 19 zirconia manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked zirconia companies as of November, 2024: 1.Nishimura Advanced Ceramics Co., Ltd., 2.Yixing Shengda Refractory Ceramic Co., Ltd, 3.CoorsTek, Inc..
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1987~1991: Engaged in research on wire covering materials at Polymer Materials Laboratory.
1991~1997: Worked as a patent Engineer at Koike International Patent Office.
1997~2005 Worked as an intellectual property member at GE Yokogawa Medical System, currently working as a writer.
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Zirconia is the generic name for zirconium oxide, an oxide of zirconium.
Its chemical formula is ZrO2, and it is classified as a ceramic. Its extremely high melting point and heat resistance make it suitable as a raw material for cutting and polishing tools and refractories. Zirconia is also used in dental materials and ceramic knives as a familiar example.
Zirconia has a high melting point and is resistant to chemical erosion, making it suitable as a material for cutting and polishing tools and refractories such as crucibles and furnaces. Zirconia is also used in ceramic knives because of its hardness, flexibility, and strength.
Among zirconia materials, tetragonal zirconia is used as a raw material for ceramics and as grinding balls for electronic components.
Cubic zirconia also has oxygen ion conductivity and is used as a solid electrolyte membrane in fuel cells.
Zirconium is an element with atomic number 40, and its oxide, zirconium oxide, is called zirconia and classified as a ceramic. At room temperature, it forms the most stable monoclinic crystal structure, but as the temperature is increased, the material changes sequentially to tetragonal and cubic crystals.
Zirconia (ZrO2) has a melting point of about 2,700°C. It has many features such as low thermal conductivity, heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and high strength. On the other hand, zirconia is susceptible to degradation due to changes in crystal structure and volume caused by changes in temperature.
Oxides such as yttrium oxide (Y2O3), calcium oxide (CaO), cerium oxide (CeO2), and magnesium oxide (MgO) are suitable stabilizers for zirconia. By adding these oxides to react and form a solid solution in the crystal structure, the stable existence of cubic crystals at room temperature becomes possible. Zirconia with a stable cubic crystal at room temperature is called stabilized zirconia or partially stabilized zirconia.
Stabilized zirconia is a good conductor of oxygen ions at high temperatures due to its high oxygen vacancy lattice. It is also chemically stable and is being investigated as a solidification base material for high concentration TRU waste.
Partially stabilized Zirconia is generally made by reducing the amount of oxide added compared to stabilized zirconia.
When 3 mol% yttrium oxide is added to partially stabilized zirconia, Y-TZP (Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystal), which has almost 100% tetragonal crystals at room temperature, is used as a dental material. Zirconia is a highly hard material, which makes it less workable when fully sintered.
For this reason, zirconia products used for dental applications are generally made by cutting blocks in a semi-sintered state, which is relatively easy to process, followed by full sintering.
There are two main methods of zirconia production: wet refining and dry refining. The raw materials for both methods are zirconium ores such as zircon and adelite. The first process in the wet refining method is to melt the selected ores with caustic soda, and then decompose. After further processes such as washing and filtration, the resulting zirconium hydroxide is calcined and pulverized to produce zirconia powder. In the dry refining method, on the other hand, the ore is crushed to remove impurities and then beneficiated repeatedly to produce pure zirconia.
The difference between zirconia and metals is that zirconia is an oxide of zirconium metal, which is a ceramic due to covalent bonds stronger than metallic bonds.
On the other hand, unlike metals, zirconia is not ductile and does not elongate, making it vulnerable to strong impacts, and in some cases, it may crack.
Zirconia has become widely used in dentistry in recent years, as mentioned above, because of its hardness, flexibility, and non-corrosive properties compared to metals. However, silica-based ceramics have the disadvantage of being hard but easily fractured when compared to real teeth.
Zirconia is so hard that it is called an artificial diamond, and its hardness is about 10 times that of conventional ceramics, making it extremely durable. However, in recent years, the variations have increased, and in dental applications, it is also being used in front teeth, which requires a high level of aesthetics in dental applications.
Although dental zirconia is white in color and esthetic, it is less transparent than silica ceramics, and the lack of color variation has been considered a demerit. Recently, however, the number of variations has increased, and zirconia is now being used for anterior teeth, which requires a high level of aesthetics in dental applications.
However, zirconia is extremely hard, about 10 times harder than ceramics, and if the bite is incorrectly adjusted, it can shave the teeth to which it is being meshed, which is a demerit that needs to be improved. In addition, to its hardness of zirconia, it makes it difficult to process and shape manually by dentists, and because it is shaped by a computerized machine, it is less precise than ceramics.
Finally, another disadvantage is the high cost of treatment. This is due to the high price of high-quality zirconia itself used in dentistry and the fact that it is an out-of-pocket treatment not covered by insurance, but this is a point that should be improved in the future.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Nishimura Advanced Ceramics Co., Ltd., founded in Japan, is a manufacturer of ceramics including kneading materials, forming, firing, and other processing to finish products. The company's product portfolio includes ceramic circuit boards, ceramic for machine parts and pump parts, optical products, temperature sensor parts, and lighting apparatuses. It also offers various firing techniques, including reduction, oxidation, and alternative firing methods, to achieve unique glazes and finishes. It also collaborates with clients to produce custom ceramic products tailored to their specific design and functional requirements.
CoorsTek, Inc., founded in 1910, is a family-run manufacturer of technical ceramic material formulations with products such as acetabular liners, baffle chambers, carbon brushes for power, focal plane array components, and precision fixed gauges used in transportation, food & beverage, electronic, chemicals, and semiconductor industries. The company in Golden, CO, USA, has research & development, custom manufacturing, and design assistance capabilities. The company's CIO- Matt Mehlbrech, was awarded the 2023 Colorado ORDIE Award for CIO of the Year.
Wunder-Mold, Inc. is an American manufacturer engaging in custom injection molding, founded in 1996 and based in Vacaville, California. The company specializes in precision molding of ceramic components, using materials like alumina and zirconia. This involves precise injection molding, debinding or sintering to remove feedstock binder materials, and post-sintering, employed when the initial injection molding phases do not meet the requirements. The company also utilizes these processes to create precision molded plastic parts, utilizing materials like plain and filled polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and nylons. The company offers these capabilities through custom manufacturing services for both ceramic and plastic parts.
Edgetech Industries LLC (ETI) is a supplier of deposition and functional materials, rare earth elements, non-ferrous metals, and semi-metal elements that was established in 2015. Based in Weston, Florida, the company offers pure metals, alloys, compounds, ceramics and permanent magnets with applications in electronics, diagnostic imaging, power transmission, and sensors. ETI products supply clients in the medical, marine, aerospace, and industrial manufacturing sectors. The company also provides additional consultation, product design, laboratory testing for new materials, and technical support services.
Calix Ceramic Solution, founded in 2012 and based in Tonawanda, New York, is a manufacturer of advanced ceramics, 3D ceramic printing, coatings & more. The company offers ceramics solutions to technology and engineering -based companies. Its ceramics solutions provide technical benefits such as wear & abrasion resistance, corrosion resistance, high strength, high-temperature performance, and advanced electrical properties. Calix Ceramic Solution also manufactures fluid-handling products such as ceramic pipe lining, nozzles, and seal rings.
High Tech Material Solutions is based in Auburn, Washington. The company is a supplier of advanced materials and a manufacturer of custom-machined ceramic components to customers globally, with local delivery and in-store pickup also available. The company primarily serves aerospace, medical, government agencies, and energy industries. The company’s services include CNC machining and custom ceramic-based materials fabrication. Additional materials the company provides include crystals, optical materials, nickel foam, and aerospace gels.
Based in Bayville, NY, SAE Manufacturing Specialties Corp. is an ISO-certified supplier and manufacturer of industrial equipment, chemicals, components, ordinance, electronics, and systems for industries ranging from aerospace to high tech to law enforcement. Examples of product offerings include raw materials, chemicals, and lubricants for industrial purposes to finished products such as security helmets for law enforcement, and military ordnances. SAE also provides research and development as well as technical support for other companies in similar industries.
Refraction Technologies Corp. was founded in 1984 and is based in Newark, New York. The company is an ISO 9001:2015 and ITAR-certified manufacturer of ceramic-based products for industries such as aquaculture, chemical processing, pumps & valves, water treatment, and wire & cable manufacturing. The company has two product segments: Porous Ceramics and Zirconia Ceramics. Porous Ceramics includes fasteners and components based on aluminum oxide and silicon carbide. Zirconia Ceramics includes components with strong corrosion resistance, and increased strength, while weighing less than conventional materials.
Aremco Products, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of high-temperature solutions founded in 1965. Based in Valley Cottage, New York, the company specializes in the production of coatings, sealants, adhesives, and other compounds designed to perform at temperatures of up to 3,200°F. The company's product portfolio includes technical ceramics with high thermal resistance and conductivity, as well as equipment like SMT boards, solar cells, and hybrid circuits. These supply clients in aerospace and defense, metallurgy, electronics, semiconductors, and chemical processing.
READE was originally established in Wolverhampton, England in 1773 as a pharmaceutical chemical and varnish manufacturer. Today READE is based in Riverside, Rhode Island in the United States and is an ISO 9001-certified distributor of specialty chemical solids. READE Advanced Materials offers a selection of hundreds of materials and compounds ranging from alloys in various forms to oxides, sulfides, individual elements, and specialty compounds. READE offers global sourcing, custom toll chemical processing, and custom toll packaging from metallurgical grade to pharmaceutical and food grade.
Accumet Materials Co. is headquartered in Ossining, New York. The company is a metal and ceramics manufacturer and distributor that provides metal engineering solutions to customers around the world. The company specializes in three primary materials: ceramics, metal, and powders. The company offers custom products based on several materials including ceramics, zirconium, magnesium oxide, crystals, and other metals. The company’s facilities include ceramics fabrication, vacuum & arc melting furnaces, a custom foundry, crystal growing, and powder production systems.
Yixing Shengda Refractory Ceramic Co., Ltd., established in 1995, is a Chinese manufacturer based in Yixing, Jiangsu, specializing in precision ceramic products. The company applies its production capabilities, including raw material preparation, forming or press molding using various techniques, kiln sintering, as well as processing methods, like abrasive grinding for ceramic surface treatment, laser machining on ceramic material surfaces, lapping, a machining process in which two surfaces are rubbed against each other with an abrasive between them, and polishing using machines. The company’s ceramic products include ceramic band heater insulators, ceramic terminal blocks, cordierite mullite ceramics, thermostat ceramics, and industrial ceramics.
Xiamen Innovacera Advanced Materials Co. Ltd. is a ceramic material manufacturer based in Xiamen, Fujian. Certified with ISO 9001: 2008 and ISO 14001:2004, the company offers various materials, including aluminum nitride, boron carbide, and boron nitride. Other ceramic material offerings include silicon carbide, silicon nitride, and zirconia-toughened alumina. The company also manufactures ceramic products, including alumina ceramic heaters, cutting blades, and filling pumps. These products find applications in various industries, including aerospace, research, and food processing. The company further extends its services to ceramic processing, offering rapid prototyping, grinding, and metallization to meet various industrial needs.
Sait Abrasivi S.p.A. is a manufacturer of abrasives for building materials established in 1953 and based in Collegno, Turin, Italy. The company's products include its Powermax-TM ZZ series wide belts and rolls for working with metals, as well as discs and sheets for working with wood. It also offers safety products for machines and personnel to ensure safety in use of its portfolio products. The company is ISO 9001-certified, and mainly serves clients in the construction, metalworking, and woodworking industries.
NTK CERATEC CO., LTD., founded in 1951 and headquartered in Sendai, Japan, is a manufacturer of ceramic products. The company has been providing high-precision ceramic materials ranging from industrial machinery parts to parts for semiconductor and liquid crystal manufacturing equipment. Products from the company include vacuum chucks, electrostatic chucks, ceramic coatings, as well as phosphor plates, and refurbishment solutions. Its ceramic products also find utility as abrasion-resistant components in crushers and related machinery.
Imerys S.A. is based in Paris, France, and is a processor and manufacturer of minerals for the industrial sector that was originally established as Peñarroya in 1880 before rebranding in 1990. The company offers its Aurora-brand mineral additives for adhesives or coatings, its C-Nergy brand synthetic graphite powders for fuel cells or batteries, and its Alodur branded alumina-based abrasives for blasting or grinding processes. The company operates internationally, with over 16,000 employees and locations in more than 40 countries.
Imperial Supplies LLC., founded in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1958 is a distributor of quality maintenance products Abrasives, Air Brakes and Assortments. The company's product portfolio includes Building & Grounds, Cutting & Hole making Tools, Fasteners, Fluid Transfer & Pumps and Furniture & Office Supplies. Their products are used in industries such as Food and Beverage, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology, Chemical and Petrochemical, Environmental Testing and healthcare. They also offer custom packaging, warehousing, and distribution services.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Nishimura Advanced Ceramics Co., Ltd. |
9.7%
|
2 | Edgetech Industries LLC |
8.6%
|
3 | CoorsTek, Inc. |
8.6%
|
4 | Yixing Shengda Refractory Ceramic Co., Ltd |
7.4%
|
5 | Refractron Technologies Corp. |
6.9%
|
6 | Calix Ceramic Solutions |
6.3%
|
7 | High Tech Material Solutions |
6.3%
|
8 | Wunder-Mold, Inc. |
5.7%
|
9 | Aremco Products, Inc. |
5.1%
|
10 | NTK CERATEC CO., LTD. |
5.1%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the zirconia page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 10 | 76.9% |
China | 2 | 15.4% |
Japan | 1 | 7.7% |