A white powder composed of particles of zirconium oxide, also known as zirconia, this material is used across a variety of fields for applications ranging from polishing semiconductors to producing artificial jewelry.Closely related to zirconium oxide powder is yttria-stabilized zirconium oxide, also known as yttria-stabilized zirconia or zirconia-yttria. This material is produced when some of the zirconium ions in zirconia are replaced with yttrium, stabilizing the cubic phase of the material. This, in turn, makes it possible to produce sintered zirconium oxide products and allows the material to conduct certain ions.

• Ceramics. Many functional ceramics use zirconia or yttria-stabilized zirconia in their production.
• Pigments and glazes. Various pigments use zirconia for its unique optical properties and general resilience, as do the glazes used for porcelain firing.
• Artificial jewelry. Zirconia powders serve a key role in the production of certain forms of artificial jewelry; specifically, cubic zirconia diamond simulants are produced primarily with this material.
• Abrasives. A variety of abrasives utilize zirconia powders in their composition, including special dispersions used to polish semiconductors.
• Fire-retardant. This material is often used as an additive or coating to offer fire-retardant benefits to textiles, plastics, and other compounds.
• Pyro-optics. Due to certain unique sensitivities of zirconia powders, they can be used to produce pyro-optic devices.
• Electronics. Many different electronic devices and components utilize zirconia of one sort or the other in their manufacture, including high-capacity capacitors, electrodes, piezoelectric elements, ion exchangers, solid dielectrics, and more.
• Optical storage. Like many nanomaterials and micro powders, zirconium oxide powders have seen extensive research for their potential as a material for optical storage. This builds on a long history of zirconia as a digital storage media.
• Displays. Certain displays utilize zirconia or zirconia-yttria in their manufacture. The material is also used more broadly for its optical properties in sterotelevision glasses, light control devices, and other light-sensitive devices.
• Insulation. Several forms of insulation use zirconia powders, for its general wear-resistance and its unique electric properties.
• High-stress components. The resilience of zirconia makes it an ideal raw material for certain high-stress components, such as smelting crucibles, bearing nozzles, etc.
• Energy storage. Both forms of zirconia powder see usage in fuels, solid oxide fuel cells for batteries, and other types of energy storage.