
Ceramics 2.4 Oxide Ceramics 445
3.2.4.2 Alumina
The properties of commercial grades of alumina (corun-
dum) are closely related to the microstructure. Pure
α-Al
2
O
3
is denser, harder, stiffer, and more refractory
than most silicate ceramics so that increasing the propor-
tion of the second phase in an alumina ceramic tends to
decrease the density, Young’s modulus, strength, hard-
ness, and refractoriness. Sintered alumina is produced
from high-purity powders, which densify to give single-
phase ceramics with a uniform grain size. Table 3.2-12
gives typical examples of properties of high-density alu-
mina, and Table 3.2-13 lists further properties of various
alumina ceramics.
Table 3.2-12 Typical properties of high-density alumina [2.3]
Al
2
O
3
content (wt%)
> 99.9 > 99.7
a
> 99.7
b
99 – 99.7
Density (g/cm
3
) 3.97 – 3.99 3.6 – 3.85 3.65 – 3.85 3.89 – 3.96
Hardness (GPa), HV 500 g 19.3 16.3 15–16 15–16
Fracture toughness K
IC
at room temperature (MPa m
1/2
) 2.8 – 4.5 – – 5.6–6
Young’s modulus (GPa) 366 – 410 300 – 380 300 – 380 330 – 400
Bending strength (MPa) at room temperature 550 – 600 160 – 300 245 – 412 550
Thermal expansion coefficient (10
−6
/K) at 6.5 – 8.9 5.4–8.4 5.4 – 8.4 6.4–8.2
200–1200
◦
C
Thermal conductivity at room temperature (W/mK) 38.9 28–30 30 30.4
Firing temperature range (
◦
C) 1600 – 2000 1750 – 1900 1750 – 1900 1700 – 1750
a
“Recrystallized” without MgO.
b
With MgO.
Table 3.2-13 Properties of Al
2
O
3
according to DIN EN 60672 [2.6]
Designation
C 780 C 786 C 795 C 799 Al
2
O
3
Al
2
O
3
Al
2
O
3
Al
2
O
3
Mechanical Symbol Units Alumina Alumina Alumina Alumina Alumina Alumina Alumina Alumina
properties
80–86% 86–95% 95–99% >99% <90% 92–96% 99% >99%
Open porosity vol. % 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0
Density, min. Mg/m
3
3.2 3.4 3.5 3.7 > 3.2 3.4 – 3.8 3.5–3.9 3.75 – 3.98
Bending σ
B
MPa 200 250 280 300 > 200 230 – 400 280 – 400 300 – 580
strength
Young’s E GPa 200 220 280 300 > 200 220 – 340 220 – 350 300 – 380
modulus
Vickers HV 100 − − − − 12–15 12–15 12–20 17 – 23
hardness
Fracture K
IC
MPa
√
m − − − − 3.5–4.5 4–4.2 4–4.2 4–5.5
toughness
Alumina is widely applied both as an electronic
ceramic material and in cases where its nonelec-
tronic properties, such as fracture toughness, wear
and high-temperature resistance, are required. Some
typical applications are in insulators in electrotechni-
cal equipment; substrates for electronic components;
wear-resistant machine parts; refractory materials in
the chemical industry, where resistance against vapors,
melts, and slags is important; insulating materials in
sheathed thermocouples and heating elements; medi-
cal implants; and high-temperature parts such as burner
nozzles.
Part 3 2.4