Alumina
Alumina is the most widely used technical ceramic and is the material of choice in about 80% of engineering applications due to its versatile combination of properties. Fired at over 1600 °C / 2900 °F to give a fully dense technical ceramic, alumina exhibits high mechanical strength, excellent rigidity and can be machined to tight tolerances and fine surface finishes. Alumina is often used as a replacement for metallic components in demanding engineering applications.
IPS Ceramics supply 95% alumina for applications below 1450 ºC / 2650 °F and 99% alumina for temperatures up to 1600 ºC / 2900 °F or where contamination of the sample must be avoided.
Alumina Products from IPS Ceramics
Alumina Tiles
Alumina tiles are often used as substrates for mounting electronic packages, providing good heat removal and electrical insulation. Other uses include non-reactive supports for thermal processing. Tiles are available in sizes up to 400mm square with thicknesses from 25mm down to 0.4mm. Laser cutting allows thin tiles to be ‘drilled’, cut or scored to order.
Alumina Ceramic Tubes
IPS stocks ceramic tubes in 99% alumina with other grades available to order. Thermally stable, high quality ceramic tubes can be specified in different diameters and lengths with either open or closed ends from an outstanding product range. Read more about our alumina tubes.
Alumina Ceramic Crucibles & Boats
Alumina is the material of choice for sample holders and high-tech test equipment used in elevated temperatures. We offer crucibles from 1cm³ to 20cm³ (with non-standard shapes and sizes available to order), as well as ashing boats.
Alumina Ignition Trays
Ignition trays are used in a wide variety of industrial processes and tests. We typically offer trays in 95% alumina which is suitable for most applications. Sizes up to 20cm long and 2cm deep are typical.
Alumina Stilts, pins and pips
Where an item needs lifting or separating from the furnace base/batt, alumina stilts, pips or pins can be used. The chemical stability of alumina helps to avoid interaction with the product and these alumina supports (often described as ‘consumable’ or ‘disposable’) can normally be re-used many times. We offer a range of sizes and designs.
Alumina Discs
IPS Ceramics supplies both ‘as fired’ and surface ground discs.
Alumina Bubble Bricks
Highly insulating kiln bricks suitable for use in high temperature applications up to 1800 °C. Also used by the EV Battery industry when firing volatile lithium compounds, their high alumina content making them resistant to chemical attacks from kiln atmosphere.
Alumina Investment Casting Plugs
Investment casting plugs can be manufactured in different grades of ceramic material. Plugs made from 95% alumina result in finished products with a much smoother and cleaner finish. 99% alumina plugs are also available.