Here at Ferro-Ceramic, we’re capable of machining over 15 different materials, and one of the most popular materials we work with is alumina. Also known as aluminum oxide, alumina is a popular engineering material because its solid mechanical properties and beneficial electrical properties make it a viable choice for a range of applications, including:
- Laser tubes
- Grinding media
- Medical prostheses
- Ballistic armor
- Electrical insulators
- And more
Alumina ceramics is a widely used material because it can be produced in a range of purities—from 85 to 99.9 percent pure—that provide unique benefits. Generally, alumina ceramic components offer quality strength, hardness, corrosion resistance, and thermal stability.
Beneficial Qualities of Alumina
As we mentioned, alumina ceramic machining is useful across many industries and applications for many reasons. One of the primary alumina ceramic properties is its strength and hardness—it’s a remarkably durable material despite its light weight and thinness. Its hardness means that even over time, it’s much less likely to wear down from mechanical wear and abrasion, so it does not need to be replaced often.
The thermal and dielectric qualities of alumina are also advantageous in various applications. Alumina is highly resistant to thermal shock and doesn’t allow an electric current to pass through it, making it an ideal insulation material.
All of these beneficial qualities are more pronounced the purer the alumina material is. We work with many alumina purities at Ferro-Ceramic, but some of the most popular include 96, 99.5, and 99.8 percent.
Alumina 96 Percent Properties
We offer many different purities of alumina material, but one of the most common is 96 percent. Alumina 96 is widely used for many reasons, but the primary benefits include significantly superior abrasion, high temperature, and chemical resistance.
Alumina 96 is also electrically insulating, making it useful for many electrical heating element applications. Alumina 96 also offers an excellent cost-to-part life performance record, so it’s favored in many applications as an affordable material that still provides outstanding long-term value. Since alumina 96 isn’t as pure, it’s generally more affordable than higher-purity aluminas, without sacrificing much in terms of the quality of the material.
Alumina 99.5 Percent Properties
Alumina 99.5 percent is another popular purity level of alumina ceramics. An alumina material of this grade is known as high-purity alumina. While it still presents the same benefits of lower-purity aluminas—wear resistance, temperature resistance, and electrical isolation—high-purity alumina offers slightly improved performance and is often used in highly demanding applications.
The elevated purity of alumina 99.5 makes it more resistant to corrosion since it has less silica content and is much harder. In addition to its increased resistance and hardness, 99.5 purity alumina also exhibits increased flexural strength—making it a popular material for thin and high-voltage applications, namely LED bulbs.
Alumina 99.8 Percent Properties
Another high-purity alumina that Ferro-Ceramic commonly works with is 99.8 percent alumina. Similar to 99.5 percent pure alumina, 99.8 percent aluminas offer greater resistance and strength, even in thin materials—making them ideal for precise applications.
Alumina 99.8 applications include:
- Wear and heat-resistant liners
- Mechanical and pump seals
- Nozzles
- Semiconductor equipment components
- Insulators
- Precision measurement components
Whichever alumina purity you choose, Ferro-Ceramic has the machines, staff, and experience to deliver high-quality custom alumina ceramic parts. Whether the application is for the medical or aerospace industry, Ferro-Ceramic can provide the quality parts and materials you need.
If you’d like to learn more about alumina material or Ferro-Ceramic’s alumina ceramic machining, our helpful staff is ready and waiting to answer any questions you may have. Contact Ferro-Ceramic to learn more about alumina and our services today!