Zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂)

Zirconium dioxide, commonly called zirconia (ZrO₂), is a white crystalline oxide of the element zirconium[10][1][3]. It is widely known for its outstanding mechanical strength, high-temperature stability, chemical inertness, and resistance to corrosion, making it an important material in engineering ceramics, dental and orthopedic implants, artificial gemstones (as cubic zirconia), refractory materials, and oxygen sensors[3][4][7]. Zirconia's structure varies with temperature, exhibiting monoclinic, tetragonal, and cubic crystal phases, the last two of which are stabilized at room temperature by doping with oxides such as yttria, magnesia, or calcia, leading to several technical grades with distinct physical properties[2][5][10]. Zirconia is not a biological macromolecule or molecular target and thus does not play direct roles in biological signaling, drug action, or disease pathways. Zirconia is often mistaken as a potential biological target due to its extensive medical use as an implant material, but it has no direct role as a molecular or cellular target. The molecule does not participate in any recognized biological pathways as a receptor, transporter, ion channel, or enzyme[2][5][3][10].

Other names

ZirconiaZirconium oxideZrO₂Baddeleyite (for the mineral form)Cubic zirconia (for a synthetic gemstone form)