Aluminum Oxide
Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3), often abbreviated as Alumina, is one of the most popular fine ceramic material families worldwide. Encompassing a range of grades – characterized primarily by purity – coarse and dense alumina is renowned as one of the greatest materials in terms of price-to-performance ratios. Aluminum Oxide ceramics can subsequently service one of the broadest industrial cross-sections of any oxide ceramic on the market.
Aluminum Oxide: Grades, Formats & Bonding Types
Extremely high purity (<99.9%) alumina grades can be fabricated using a choice of bonding and forming techniques (blending, casting, pressing, etc.) to yield high wear- and corrosion-resistant ceramic suitable for many applications. These properties can be moderated and altered using a broad range of additives and additional components, which are likewise available with a choice of bonding solutions (cement, oxide, sintered, etc.). For example: adding manganese oxide (MnO2) is beneficial for hardness; silicon dioxide (SiO2) can improve thermal shock resistance; while low levels of zirconium oxide (ZrO2) can increase both lifetime at high temperatures and overall wear resistance. Additional components include carbon (C), chromium oxide (Cr2O3), magnesia (MgO), and more.
Saint-Gobain, with a deep understanding of the chemical behaviors of technical ceramics, manufactures a wide and versatile range of alumina products that routinely meet customer requirements. The wide-ranging chemical availability of aluminum oxide makes it an extremely versatile fine ceramic suitable for demanding conditions and applications. As a result, alumina can be tailored for high performance in extremely demanding conditions and applications.
