OBJECTIVES: This in-vitro study aimed to evaluate the effect of hydrofluoric acid etching and airborne particle abrasion on zirconia bond strength, using three different types of cement. To assess the impact of hydrofluoric acid etching on zirconia surface roughness and investigate the effect of hydrofluoric acid etching on zirconia's surface topography, microstructure, and crystal structure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Crown-abutment simulation systems were constructed, using a custom-made zirconia tapered ring model and tapered titanium pin-abutments. Twelve groups were included in the study and classified according to the surface treatment and type of cement used. Each group had 10 specimens for a total of 120 test specimens. The fully sintered zirconia ring was alumina particle abrasion (APA) treated with a 50-μm alumina and/or etched with 9.5% HF acid, solution for 1 minute. The Ti pin was APA treated with 125-μm alumina. Three different types of cement were used: one RMGIC (GC FujiCem Evolve) and two resin composite types of cement (Panavia SA Universal and Panavia V5). A cementing jig was used to standardize the cementation process of the titanium pins to the zirconia rings. An Instron was used to obtain the retention load values. The failure load between the zirconia ring and the titanium pin was determined using an axial pullout test and the values were statistically analyzed for the effects of etching treatment, APA treatment, and cement type using JMP Pro 16. Zirconia-disk specimens were constructed using a custom-made disk model. Thirteen groups were included in the study and classified according to the hydrofluoric acid etching concentrations, consistencies, and timing used. Each group had 3 specimens. The total specimen size was thirty-nine specimens. Disks were polished and etched using 5% HF, 9.5% HF, and 40% HF acid etching concentrations, gel, and solution consistencies, and for 1 and 15 minutes of etching time. Disks were examined with an SEM, X-Ray diffractometer, and a profilometer for microstructure, crystallography, and surface roughness, respectively. RESULTS: HF acid-etching treatment significantly increased retention load compared to non-etched groups. There was no significant difference in retention load between APA-treated and non-APA-treated groups. Groups cemented with Panavia V5 showed a higher retention load compared to GC FujiCem Evolve and Panavia SA Universal. There was no significant difference in the surface roughness among the etched groups and the control groups. Roughening of the crystal boundaries with irregularities and pits was observed under SEM. As etching time and concentration increased the surface became rougher and more irregular. There were no obvious crystal structure differences between the etched groups and non-etched groups. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly different retention loads were found among tested groups. Hydrofluoric acid etching increases the bond strength of zirconia and titanium, using resin composite cement. Using hydrofluoric acid etching to pre-treat the zirconia surface may be an alternative approach to obtain sufficient bonding strength.