Alumina & Ceramics

Commonly known as Performance Ceramics, Technical Ceramics, or Refractory Ceramics. We provide those ceramics as tubes, rods, discs, and other custom fabrications while providing the highest quality, best service, and lowest price. Please contact us directly or send prints for a custom quote. Additionally, some stocked items are available in our store for immediate shipment. If you need help with your application our Engineering Team is available for scheduled consultations.

Oxide Ceramics
Alumina 85-99.9% purity
Mullite
Zirconia, MgO, Yttria SZ, ZTA, and others.
Cordierite
Porcelain
Sapphire
Fused Quartz
Macor
Ceramic Composite

Alumina and performance Ceramics CeraMaterials

Non-oxide Ceramics & Carbides
Silicon Carbide, SiC, all types
Silicon Nitride (Si3N4)
Boron Nitride (BN, all types)
Boron Carbide (BC)
Tungsten Carbide (WC)
Aluminum Nitride (AIN)

Useful Charts

Sintered Ceramics Properties

Properties	Units	Test	Mullite	Alumina 94%	Alumina 96%	Alumina 99.5%	Alumina 99.8%
Density	gm/cc	ASTM-C20	2.80	3.70	3.72	3.90	3.92
Crystal Size Average	Microns	Thin-section	10	12	6	6	6
Water Absorption	%	ASTM-373	0	0	0	0	0
Gas Permeability	-	-	0	0	0	0	0
Color	-	-	Tan	White	White	Ivory	Ivory
Flexural Strength (MOR) 20℃	MPa (psi x 10³)	ASTM-F417	170 (25)	352 (51)	358 (52)	379 (55)	375 (54)
Elastic Modulus 20℃	GPa (psi x 10³)	ASTM-C848	150 (22)	303 (44)	303 (44)	370 (54)	370 (54)
Poisson's Ratio ℃	-	ASTM-C848	-	0.21	0.21	0.22	0.22
Compressive Strength 20℃	MPa (psi X 10³)	ASTM-C773	550 (80)	2103 (305)	2068 (300)	2600 (377)	2500 (363)
Hardness	GPa (kg/mm²) R45N	Knoop 1000gm Rockwell 45 N	7.4 (750) 70	11.5 (1175) 78	11.5 (1175) 78	14.1 (1440) 83	14.1 (1440) 83
Tensile Strength 25℃	MPa (psi x 10³)	ACMA Test #4	-	193 (28)	221 (32)	262 (38)	248 (36)
Fracture Toughness K(l c)	MPa m^1/2	Notched Beam	2	4-5	4-5	4-5	4-5
Thermal Conductivity 20℃	W/m °K	ASTM-C408	3.5	22.4	24.7	30.0	30.0
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion 25-100℃	1 x 10^-6/℃	ASTM-C372	5.3	8.2	8.2	8.2	8.2
Specific Heat 100℃	J/kg*K	ASTM-E1269	950	880	880	880	880
Thermal Shock Resistance Δ Tc	℃	Note 3	300	250	250	200	200
Max Use Temperature	℃	No-Load Cond.	1700	1700	1700	1750	1750
Dielectric Strength	ac-kV/mm acV/mil	ASTM-D116	9.8 248	8.3 210	8.3 210	8.7 220	8.7 220
Dielectric Constant 1 MHz	25℃	ASTM-D150	6.0	9.1	9	9.7	9.8
Dielectric Loss (tan delta) 1 MHz	25℃	ASTM-D150	0.0020	0.0004	0.0002	0.0001	0.001
Volume Resistivity 25℃ 500℃ 1000℃	ohm-cm	ASTM-D1829	> 10¹⁴ 5 x 10¹² 3 x 10⁵	> 10¹⁴ 4 x 10⁹ 5 x 10⁵	> 10¹⁴ 4 x 10⁹ 1 x 10⁶	> 10¹⁴ 2 x 10¹⁰ 2 x 10⁶	> 10¹⁴ 2 x 10¹⁰ 2 x 10⁷
Impingement	-	Note 4	-	0.52	0.50	0.47	0.47
Rubbing	-	Note 4	-	-	0.60	-	-
1. Data Measurements – All data measurements are typical and made at room temperature unless otherwise noted. 2. Composition Control – all ceramic compositions are controlled using modern chemical, spectrographic, and X-ray fluorescent methods. 3. Thermal Shock Resistance – Tests are run by quenching samples into water from various elevated temperatures. The change in temperature where a sharp decrease in flexural strength is observed is listed as DTc. 4. Wear Resistance – Impingement tests are run using a dry fused alumina abrasive. Rubbing tests are run using a dry 240 grit fused alumina abrasive. The indices in the chart are calculated by dividing the material volume loss by the volume loss of an AD-85 alumina control. The lower in the index, the better the wear resistance. 5. Dielectric Strength numbers represent measurements on samples that were 0.25” thick.

Sintered Alumina Info & Pricing

Sintered Alumina Products	Size	Price
Alumina Rods Grade: 99.7%	0.5" OD x 4"	$7.00
Alumina Rods Grade: 99.7%	0.5" OD x 6"	$12.00
Alumina Insulators Grade: 99.8%	1.505" OD x 1.254" ID x 0.635" L	$5.00
Alumina Rings Grade: 99.8%	0.695" OD x 0.540" ID x 0.565" L	$3.00
Alumina Tiles Grade: 99.7%	0.25" x 4" x 4"	$30.00
	0.25" x 6" x 6"	$48.00
	0.25" x 8" x 8"	$70.00
	0.25" x 12" x 12"	$190.00
Alumina Tiles Grade: 95%	0.25" x 4" x 4"	$18.00
	0.25" x 6" x 6"	$30.00
	0.25" x 8" x 8"	$45.00
	0.25" x 12" x 12"	$140.00
Need a custom size? Contact us for a quote.

Zirconia Ceramic Properties

Properties	Units	Test	Zirconia Toughened Alumina (ZTA)	Magnesia Partially Stabilized Zirconia (MgO)	Yttria Partially Stabilized Zirconia (YTZP Sintered)	Yttria Partially Stabilized Zirconia (YTZP HIPpED)
Color	-	-	White	Ivory	Ivory	Gray
Density	gm/cm³	ASTM-C20	4.01	5.72	6.02	6.07
Crystal Size Average	Microns	ASTM-E112	2	25	1	1
Water Absorption	%	ASTM-373	0	0	0	0
Gas Permeability	-	-	0	0	0	0
Flexural Strength (MOR)	MPa (psi x 10³) @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-F417	450 (65)	900 (131)	1240 (180)	1720 (249)
Elastic Modulus	GPa (psi x 10⁶) @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C848	360 (52)	200 (29)	210 (30)	210 (30)
Poisson's Ratio	@68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C848	0.30	0.30	0.30	0.30
Compressive Strength	MPa (psi X 10³) @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C773	2900 (421)	1750 (254)	2500 (363)	2500 (363)
Hardness	R45N GPa (kg/mm²)	Rockwell 45 N KNOOP 1000gm	85 14.5 (1475)	77 11.8 (1200)	81 12.7 (1300)	81 12.7 (1300)
Tensile Strength	MPa (psi x 10³) @77℉ \| @25℃	ACMA Test #4	290 (42)	483 (70)	-	-
Fracture Toughness	MPa m^1/2 K_lc	NOTCHED BEAM	5-6	11	13	13
Thermal Conductivity	W/m °K @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C408	27.0	2.2	2.2	2.2
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion	1 x 10^-6/℃ @25℉ - 1000℃	ASTM-C372	8.3	10.2	10.3	10.3
Specific Heat	J/kg*K @212℉ \| 100℃	ASTM-E1269	885	400	400	400
Thermal Shock Resistance	Δ Tc ℃	WATER QUENCH	300	350	350	350
Dielectric Strength @ 6.35mm	ac-kV/mm ac V/mil	ASTM-D116	9.0 228	9.4 240	9.0 228	9.0 228
Dielectric Constant	1 MHz @77℉ \| 25℃	ASTM-D150	10.6	28.00	29.0	29.0
Dielectric Loss (Tan Delta)	1 MHz @77℉ \| 25℃	ASTM-D150	0.0005	0.001	0.001	0.001
Volume Resistivity @77℉ \| 25℃ @932℉ \| 500℃ @1832℉ \| 1000℃	ohm-cm	ASTM-D1829	>10¹⁴ 2 x 10⁹ 3 x 10⁶	>10¹³ 2 x 10⁴ <10³	>10¹³ 2 x 10⁴ <10³	>10¹³ 2 x 10⁴ <10³

Carbide Ceramic Properties

Properties	Units	Test	Reaction Bonded Silicon Carbide	Direct Sintered Silicon Carbide	CVD Sintered Silicon Carbide	Reaction Bonded Boron Carbide	Hot Pressed Boron Carbide	Tungsten Carbide
Color	-	-	Black	Black	Black	-	Black	Gray
Density	gm/cm³	ASTM-C20	3.10	3.15	3.21	2.65	2.5	14.90
Crystal Size Average	Microns	ASTM-E112	12	4	-	-	15	1
Water Absorption	%	ASTM-373	0	0	0	0	0	0
Gas Permeability	-	-	0	0	0	0	0	0
Flexural Strength (MOR)	MPa (psi x 10³) @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-F417	462 (67)	480 (70)	470-520 (68-75)	250 (36)	410 (59)	2330 (338)
Elastic Modulus	GPa (psi x 10⁶) @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C848	393 (57)	410 (59)	435-460 (63-67)	379 (55)	460 (67)	614 (89)
Poisson's Ratio	@68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C848	0.20	0.21	0.21	0.18	0.17	-
Compressive Strength	MPa (psi X 10³) @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C773	2700 (392)	3500 (508)	-	1721 (250)	-	4343 (630)
Hardness	R45N GPa (kg/mm²)	Rockwell 45 N KNOOP 1000gm	- 24.5 (2500)	- 27.4 (2800)	- 27 (2750)	- 25.5 (2600)	27 (2750)	15.2 (1548)
Tensile Strength	MPa (psi x 10³) @77℉ \| @25℃	ACMA Test #4	307 (44.5)	-	-	-	-	-
Fracture Toughness	MPa m^1/2 K_lc	NOTCHED BEAM	4	4	3.5	3-4	2.5	24
Thermal Conductivity	W/m °K @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C408	125.0	150.0	140.0	50.0	90.0	84.0
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion	1 x 10^-6/℃ @25℉ - 1000℃	ASTM-C372	4.3	4.4	4.6	4.5	5.6	5.9
Specific Heat	J/kg*K @212℉ \| 100℃	ASTM-E1269	800	800	665	-	-	-
Thermal Shock Resistance	Δ Tc ℃	WATER QUENCH	400	300	-	-	-	-
Dielectric Strength @ 6.35mm	ac-kV/mm ac V/mil	ASTM-D116	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dielectric Constant	1 MHz @77℉ \| 25℃	ASTM-D150	-	-	-	-	-	-
Dielectric Loss (Tan Delta)	1 MHz @77℉ \| 25℃	ASTM-D150	-	-	-	-	-	-
Volume Resistivity @77℉ \| 25℃ @932℉ \| 500℃ @1832℉ \| 1000℃	ohm-cm	ASTM-D1829	< 10³ < 10³ < 10³	< 10⁵ < 10³ < 10²	< 0.10 - > 10⁵ - -	< 10³ < 10³ < 10³	< 10² - -	< 10³ < 10³ < 10³

Nitride Ceramic Properties

Properties	Units	Test	Hot Pressed Aluminum Nitride	Silicon Nitride (Glass HIPped)	High Temp Silicon Nitride (Glass HIPped)
Color	-	-	Gray	Gray	Gray
Density	gm/cm³	ASTM-C20	3.26	3.21	3.22
Crystal Size Average	Microns	ASTM-E112	3	-	-
Water Absorption	%	ASTM-373	0	0	0
Gas Permeability	-	-	0	0	0
Flexural Strength (MOR)	MPa (psi x 10³) @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-F417	340 (49)	1000 (145)	900 (131)
Elastic Modulus	GPa (psi x 10⁶) @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C848	330 (48)	310 (45)	310 (45)
Poisson's Ratio	@68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C848	0.25	0.27	0.27
Compressive Strength	MPa (psi X 10³) @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C773	-	2500 (363)	-
Hardness	R45N GPa (kg/mm²)	Rockwell 45 N KNOOP 1000gm	- 11 (1120)	- 16 (1630)	- 16 (1630)
Tensile Strength	MPa (psi x 10³) @77℉ \| @25℃	ACMA Test #4	-	-	630 (91)
Fracture Toughness	MPa m^1/2 K_lc	NOTCHED BEAM	3	6.5	6.0
Thermal Conductivity	W/m °K @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C408	80.0	34	38
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion	1 x 10^-6/℃ @25℉ - 1000℃	ASTM-C372	5.0	3.7	3.1
Specific Heat	J/kg*K @212℉ \| 100℃	ASTM-E1269	740	-	724
Thermal Shock Resistance	Δ Tc ℃	WATER QUENCH	-	-	-
Dielectric Strength @ 6.35mm	ac-kV/mm ac V/mil	ASTM-D116	8.2 (207)	-	-
Dielectric Constant	1 MHz @77℉ \| 25℃	ASTM-D150	9	8	-
Dielectric Loss (Tan Delta)	1 MHz @77℉ \| 25℃	ASTM-D150	< 0.001	-	-
Volume Resistivity @77℉ \| 25℃ @932℉ \| 500℃ @1832℉ \| 1000℃	ohm-cm	ASTM-D1829	> 10¹³ > 10⁵ > 10³	> 10¹⁴ - -	- - -

Silicate Ceramic Properties

Properties	Units	Test	Porcelain	Steatite	Cordierite	Mullite
Color	-	-	White	Beige	Orange-Tan	Tan
Density	gm/cm³	ASTM-C20	2.40	2.78	2.00	2.80
Crystal Size Average	Microns	ASTM-E112	-	-	-	10
Water Absorption	%	ASTM-373	0	0	10	0
Gas Permeability	-	-	0	0	Porous	0
Flexural Strength (MOR)	MPa (psi x 10³) @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-F417	130 (19)	140 (20)	66 (9.5)	170 (25)
Elastic Modulus	GPa (psi x 10⁶) @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C848	104 (15)	110 (16)	103 (15)	150 (22)
Poisson's Ratio	@68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C848	-	-	0.31	-
Compressive Strength	MPa (psi X 10³) @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C773	590 (86)	-	165 (24)	550 (80)
Hardness	R45N GPa (kg/mm²)	Rockwell 45 N KNOOP 1000gm	60 5.9 (600)	57 -	50 5.8 (590)	70 7.4 (750)
Tensile Strength	MPa (psi x 10³) @77℉ \| @25℃	ACMA Test #4	-	-	19 (2.7)	-
Fracture Toughness	MPa m^1/2 K_lc	NOTCHED BEAM	2	-	-	2
Thermal Conductivity	W/m °K @68℉ \| @20℃	ASTM-C408	5.0	2.5	2.5	3.5
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion	1 x 10^-6/℃ @25℉ - 1000℃	ASTM-C372	4.9	9	3.4	5.3
Specific Heat	J/kg*K @212℉ \| 100℃	ASTM-E1269	-	-	-	950
Thermal Shock Resistance	Δ Tc ℃	WATER QUENCH	-	100	350	300
Dielectric Strength @ 6.35mm	ac-kV/mm ac V/mil	ASTM-D116	-	-	10 (255)	9.8 (248)
Dielectric Constant	1 MHz @77℉ \| 25℃	ASTM-D150	5.9	-	5.0	6.0
Dielectric Loss (Tan Delta)	1 MHz @77℉ \| 25℃	ASTM-D150	0.0024	-	7.0	0.002
Volume Resistivity @77℉ \| 25℃ @932℉ \| 500℃ @1832℉ \| 1000℃	ohm-cm	ASTM-D1829	- - -	10¹³ 10⁸ -	10¹² 10⁶ -	10¹⁴ 4 x 10⁵ -