3DCeram sets alumina against zirconia 3Y for printed technical ceramics

3DCeram, which develops and processes ceramics for additive manufacturing, has published a comparison of alumina and zirconia 3Y. Alumina is the lighter material and scores higher on stiffness, hardness, thermal conductivity and electrical resistivity, while zirconia 3Y has a far higher reported flexural strength and appears in some space and dental uses. The company stresses that the final choice rests on the finished part, its operating environment and a qualified production process.