Alumina, also commonly referred to as sapphire ceramic material, is one of the most versatile ceramic materials because of its high temperature service limit along with its chemical, electrical and mechanical properties. It is also relatively low cost, is easily formed and finished using a number of fabrication methods including injection molding for low cost, high volume production runs. It is often compounded with silica or trace elements to enhance its properties or fabrication and commonly will range from 92% to 99.8% Al2O3. 

Alumina machined ceramic components can be formed by single axis pressing, isostatic pressing, injection molding, slip casting, or extrusion. Parts can "green machined" to near net size before firing and then "hard" ground using diamond tooling to tolerances less than 0.0002" (0.005 mm). Special grades of alumina can be metallized and/or brazed to metal parts.

For special grades of isopressed alumina for plain and metallized tubes see our ISO ALUMINA Data Sheet and for very large gel cast shapes and ultra high purity (99.99%) see the SEMICONDUCTOR section of our website.