Applications of Alumina Ceramics

Alumina ceramics are widely acclaimed for their strength, thermal resistance and
wear-resistance; making them popular choices in various applications. Their high
levels of chemical inertness and insulating properties also make alumina ceramics
highly sought-after materials in medical devices like artificial joints, bone spacers and
cochlear implants; electrical insulators and grinding media use are also crucial
applications. Furthermore, alumina ceramics have found wide application in
electronic industry as substrate materials for hybrid integrated circuits and surface
mount devices.

Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) is the main constituent of alumina ceramics, and comes
either as finely ground powder or in the form of hydrate or calcined products. When
ground finely, fine-grained alumina results in smaller grain sizes with lower void
content and increased density; this feature enables these ceramics to withstand
higher temperatures without losing structural integrity.
Alumina ceramics can be produced via dry pressing, isostatic pressuring, hot or cold
pressing, tape casting, injection molding or compression molding processes.
Unfortunately, however, their bodies lack forming properties, necessitating support
with organic or inorganic binders such as methyl cellulose or HPMC for proper
molding processes.

Alumina ceramics can be tailored to match the aesthetics of any application by
adding colorants during sintering, which typically yield white colors but can take on
other hues depending on manufacturing processes and additives used. One popular
means of producing these ceramics is injection molding which involves tool design
and manufacturing, injection molding, de-binding (removing binder) and then
sintering resulting in fully dense ceramic material.


Contact Info:
Applications of Alumina Ceramics