15 Aluminium Oxide Uses: Facts You Should Know!

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Aluminium oxide(Al2O3) is used majorly in industries such as ceramics, glass, refractories. It is also used as a catalyst in various reaction. Let us discuss some uses of Al2O3.

  • Al2O3 is used in the manufacture of electrical insulators and high-temperature furnace insulations.
  • Al2O3 is used in the manufacture of spark plug insulators, micro-electric substrates, etc. It is also a very important component in the microchip industry.
  • Al2O3 is lightweight and has a very great strength. Due to these properties, it is used in making armors for body and vehicles and also aircrafts.
  • Al2O3 is used in laboratory equipments such as crucibles, furnaces and other lab tools.
  • Al2O3 is used majorly for its strength and hardness. It is widely used as a substitute for diamond which is much less expensive. It is also used in making of sand paper which contains aluminium oxide crystals.
  • Al2O3 because of its low specific heat and low retention, is used in grinding operations and cutoff tools. Al2O3 powder is used in scratch-repair and polishing kits.
  • Alumina powder can also be used as a coating to protect against abrasion from industrial products and machineries.
  • Al2O3 in its crystalline form corundum is the base element for these precious gems like rubies and sapphires. It is also used as polishing powder for some gems.
  • Alumina powder has high melting point and thermal capacity. Because of these properties, Al2O3 is used in refractory products that include iron and steelmaking, cement production, photochemical processing and waste incineration.
  • Al2O3 is used in creation and production of glass products because of its increased strength and durability.  Aluminosilicate glasses contain 5% to 10 % alumina in it.
  • Alumina powder is used in making ceramics and advanced ceramics that are made specifically for application that require increased thermal stability¸ wear resistance, etc.
  • Al2O3 nanoparticles are nanosized spheres from alumina bulk which may be obtained using methods like pyrolysis, sol gel, and laser ablation. These are generally found in two states, either as a spherical shaped individual or as oriented fibres.
  • Al2O3 is used widely in industries in piping components such as elbows, tees, and straight pipes, also for production of nozzles, valves, reducers, etc.
  • Al2O3 is also useful material for manufacturing cutting tools, thermocouple sheaths, wear-resistant pump impellers, etc.
  • Al2O3 has also its usage as filler in plastics, bricks, and other clayware items.

Conclusion

Al2O3 is an amphoteric metal oxide has certain property that makes it suitable for usage in large number of ways. Alumina is the most common ingredient in certain cosmetic products such as blush, lipstick, and sunscreen. It   is used as a catalyst and also used in sodium vapour lamps. To sum up it is a very important compound that is used in the various ways.