Aluminum oxide are used for all kinds of the industry

Most of the aluminium oxide produced is used to form aluminium metal. Oxygen typically catalyses corrosion in reaction with the metal aluminium. However, when bonded with oxygen to form aluminium oxide, a protective coating forms and prevents further oxidation. This adds strength and makes the material less vulnerable to deterioration.

Industries that use aluminium oxide include:

Medical industry

Due to aluminium oxide’s hardness, bio-inertness and chemical properties, it is a preferred material for bearings in hip replacements, as prostheses, bionic implants, prosthetic eye substitutes, tissue reinforcements, dental crowns, abutments, bridges, and other dental implants. It is also used in lab equipment and tools like crucibles, furnaces and other labware.

Military and protective equipment

Aluminium oxide’s strength and lightweight qualities contribute to enhancing body armours, like breastplates, as well as vehicle and aircraft armour, which is its biggest market. Aluminium oxide is also used in synthetic-sapphire bulletproof windows and ballistics.

Electrical and electronics industry

Its high melting and boiling points, in addition to its excellent thermal resistive properties, make aluminium oxide desirable in the manufacture of high-temperature furnace insulations and electrical insulators. Alumina films are also vital components in the microchip industry. Some of its other uses include spark plug insulators, micro-electric substrates and insulating heatsinks. 

Gem industry

Aluminium oxide is a valuable element in the formation of rubies and sapphires. Its crystalline form, corundum, is the base element for these precious gems. Rubies owe their deep red colour to chromium impurities while sapphires get their variant colours from traces of iron and titanium.

Industrial applications

Since alumina is chemically inert, it is utilised as a filler in plastics, bricks, and other heavy clayware, like kilns. Due to its extreme strength and hardness, it is often used as an abrasive for sandpaper. It is also an economical substitute for industrial diamonds. 

Aluminium oxides are used, as well, for the production of piping components such as elbows, tees, straight pipes, hydro cyclones, reducers, nozzles, and valves. Other applications include the production of various machining tools, cutting tools, thermocouple sheaths, wear-resistant pump impellers, and baffle plates.