12 Uses of Aluminium Oxide Part 1

Aluminium oxide, also known as activated alumina or alumina powder, is a chemical compound distilled from bauxite. Its chemical, mechanical, and other characteristics make it ideal for a large scope of applications and a valuable material for technical ceramic companies. It’s one of the most versatile advanced ceramic materials in terms of applications and manufacturing. Knowing what areas of industry apply alumina in their products can help the development of your injection molding parts. 

What are the main implementations of aluminium oxide?

Alumina is a compound that boasts favorable thermal, mechanical, and chemical properties suitable for the manufacturing of different components. It is one of the most implemented materials in various industrial applications, but also in different areas of technology, engineering, and science due to its thermal stability, excellent hardness and pressure resistance:

Abrasives

Alumina is a vital compound for a range of industrial abrasive materials used for shaping industrial components. Excellent hardness and superior strength allow aluminium oxide to be suitable for use in these applications and machines. Conversely, it can be used as coating for industrial products and machinery to protect them against abrasion.

Refractories

Due to its thermal capacity and high melting point, alumina powder is often used in refractory products, particularly when refractories need to retain their strength and other properties at high temperatures. The most common refractories using alumina in their composition can be found in petrochemical processing, cement production, waste incineration, iron and steelmaking.

Glass

Production of glass with increased durability and strength requires the addition of aluminium oxide. Alumina powder is a common component of shatterproof and bulletproof glass due to its high pressure resistance and excellent hardness. The potential of alumina has also been studied in creating a completely unbreakable glass.

Ceramics

Alumina is a crucial component of technical or advanced ceramics, also known as engineered ceramics. These products are intended for harsh applications requiring thermal stability, enhanced wear resistance, as well as other properties inherent to aluminium oxide. The purity of alumina used in ceramics can vary and go up to 99.9%, the highest purity resulting in the highest strength, corrosion and wear resistance.

Medical industry

Alumina features hardness and thermal stability, which are key properties for a number of biomedical applications. It’s crucial in the manufacturing of products such as prosthetic limbs, hip replacement bearings, tissue reinforcements, prosthetic eye substitutes, bionic implants, and dental implants. However, it’s also used for lab tools and equipment such as furnaces, crucibles, and other essential labware.

Electrical insulation

Aluminium oxide is an excellent electrical insulator, used for integrated circuits as a substrate. It is also used as a tunnel barrier in the fabrication of devices such as superconducting quantum interference devices and single-electron transistors. Aluminum is a dielectric material with a large band gap suitable for use in capacitors as an insulating barrier.

What are the leading aluminium oxide ceramic components production companies?

With over 20 years of experience, Wunder Mold is capable of providing its clients with cutting-edge injection molded components and parts customized to meet their specific requirements. We specialize in plastic and ceramic materials with the main focus on Alumina and Zirconia. 

Our client-oriented approach, proven techniques, and expertise-based methodology allow us to meet the needs of our customers and produce parts according to their specifications. We foster custom-made solutions and expert manufacturing to meet the demands of your specific field. From material selection and mold design to precise part finishing, we’ll assist you from start to finish. Reach out to us by phone or send us an email at sales@wundermold.com.