Difference between revisions of "Aluminum oxide"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
  
A white, hard, insoluble powder. Aluminum oxide, or alumina, naturally occurs in some feldspars, [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=alumina trihydrate alumina trihydrate], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=corundum corundum], gibbsite, [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=bauxite bauxite], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=ruby ruby], and [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=sapphire sapphire]. It was first extract commercially from bauxite in 1888 using the Bayer process. Aluminum oxide is extremely hard and is used as an [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=abrasiv abrasiv]e both in its natural (corundum, [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=emery emery]) and synthetic (Alundum) forms. Synthetic alumina is prepared primarily in three forms: activated alumina, smelter-grade alumina, and calcined alumina. The porous, granular activated alumina aggressively absorbs liquid water and vater vapor. The fine-grain calcined alumina is a dense impermeable ceramic material used for abrasives, refractories, electrical insulation, high temperature crucibles and dental restoration. It is also used as a filler for paints, glass, and ceramics. When added to glaze mixtures, aluminum oxide increases viscosity during firing, prevents devitrification during cooling and adds durability to the final surface.
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A white, hard, insoluble powder. Aluminum oxide, or alumina, naturally occurs in some feldspars, [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=alumina%20trihydrate alumina trihydrate], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=corundum corundum], gibbsite, [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=bauxite bauxite], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=ruby ruby], and [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=sapphire sapphire]. It was first extract commercially from bauxite in 1888 using the Bayer process. Aluminum oxide is extremely hard and is used as an [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=abrasiv abrasiv]e both in its natural (corundum, [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=emery emery]) and synthetic (Alundum) forms. Synthetic alumina is prepared primarily in three forms: activated alumina, smelter-grade alumina, and calcined alumina. The porous, granular activated alumina aggressively absorbs liquid water and vater vapor. The fine-grain calcined alumina is a dense impermeable ceramic material used for abrasives, refractories, electrical insulation, high temperature crucibles and dental restoration. It is also used as a filler for paints, glass, and ceramics. When added to glaze mixtures, aluminum oxide increases viscosity during firing, prevents devitrification during cooling and adds durability to the final surface.
  
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
  
aluminium oxide (IUPAC); alumina; corundum; emery; aluminiumoxyd (Dan.); Aluminiumoxid (Deut.); alumine (Fr.); oxyde d'aluminium (Fr.); aluminiumoxide (Ned.); Aluminiumoksid (Nor.); trjtlenek glinu (Pol.); xido de alumnio (Port.); Alundum; Aloxite; Bauxilite; White Bauxilite; Lucalox [GE]
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aluminium oxide (IUPAC); alumina; corundum; emery; aluminiumoxyd (Dan.); Aluminiumoxid (Deut.); alumine (Fr.); oxyde d'aluminium (Fr.); aluminiumoxide (Ned.); Aluminiumoksid (Nor.); trójtlenek glinu (Pol.); óxido de alumínio (Port.); Alundum; Aloxite; Bauxilite; White Bauxilite; Lucalox [GE]
  
 
[[[SliderGallery rightalign|aaiAlumina.jpg~FTIR|aluminum oxide.jpg~Chemical structure]]]
 
[[[SliderGallery rightalign|aaiAlumina.jpg~FTIR|aluminum oxide.jpg~Chemical structure]]]
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== Authority ==
 
== Authority ==
  
* G.S.Brady, G.S.Brady, ''Materials Handbook'', McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971  Comment: p. 34
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* G.S.Brady, ''Materials Handbook'', McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971  Comment: p. 34
  
* Richard S. Lewis, Richard S. Lewis, ''Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary'', Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
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* Richard S. Lewis, ''Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary'', Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
  
* Michael McCann, Michael McCann, ''Artist Beware'', Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
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* Michael McCann, ''Artist Beware'', Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
  
* R.M.Organ, R.M.Organ, ''Design for Scientific Conservation of Antiquities'', Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, 1968
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* R.M.Organ, ''Design for Scientific Conservation of Antiquities'', Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, 1968
  
* Pam Hatchfield, Pam Hatchfield, ''Pollutants in the Museum Environment'', Archetype Press, London, 2002
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* Pam Hatchfield, ''Pollutants in the Museum Environment'', Archetype Press, London, 2002
  
* Robert Fournier, Robert Fournier, ''Illustrated Dictionary of Practical Pottery'', Chilton Book Company, Radnor, PA, 1992
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* Robert Fournier, ''Illustrated Dictionary of Practical Pottery'', Chilton Book Company, Radnor, PA, 1992
  
 
* ''The Merck Index'', Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983  Comment: entry 369
 
* ''The Merck Index'', Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983  Comment: entry 369
  
* ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com  Comment: "Alumina." Encyclopdia Britannica. 2003.  Encyclopdia Britannica Premium Service.  02 Dec, 2003  .
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* ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com  Comment: "Alumina." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2003.  Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service.  02 Dec, 2003  .
  
 
* Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com  Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_oxide (Accessed Mar. 15, 2006) for non-English terms
 
* Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com  Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_oxide (Accessed Mar. 15, 2006) for non-English terms
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* ''Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia'', Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976
 
* ''Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia'', Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976
  
* Random House, Random House, ''Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language'', Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
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* Random House, ''Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language'', Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
  
 
* ''The American Heritage Dictionary'' or ''Encarta'', via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
 
* ''The American Heritage Dictionary'' or ''Encarta'', via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

Revision as of 07:33, 24 July 2013

Description

A white, hard, insoluble powder. Aluminum oxide, or alumina, naturally occurs in some feldspars, alumina trihydrate, corundum, gibbsite, bauxite, ruby, and sapphire. It was first extract commercially from bauxite in 1888 using the Bayer process. Aluminum oxide is extremely hard and is used as an abrasive both in its natural (corundum, emery) and synthetic (Alundum) forms. Synthetic alumina is prepared primarily in three forms: activated alumina, smelter-grade alumina, and calcined alumina. The porous, granular activated alumina aggressively absorbs liquid water and vater vapor. The fine-grain calcined alumina is a dense impermeable ceramic material used for abrasives, refractories, electrical insulation, high temperature crucibles and dental restoration. It is also used as a filler for paints, glass, and ceramics. When added to glaze mixtures, aluminum oxide increases viscosity during firing, prevents devitrification during cooling and adds durability to the final surface.

Synonyms and Related Terms

aluminium oxide (IUPAC); alumina; corundum; emery; aluminiumoxyd (Dan.); Aluminiumoxid (Deut.); alumine (Fr.); oxyde d'aluminium (Fr.); aluminiumoxide (Ned.); Aluminiumoksid (Nor.); trójtlenek glinu (Pol.); óxido de alumínio (Port.); Alundum; Aloxite; Bauxilite; White Bauxilite; Lucalox [GE]

FTIR

AaiAlumina.jpg

Chemical structure

Aluminum oxide.jpg


Other Properties

Soluble in mineral acids and strong alkali. Insoluble in water.

Composition Al2O3
CAS 1344-28-1
Mohs Hardness 8.0 - 9.0
Melting Point 2030-2050
Density 2.8-4.0
Molecular Weight mol. wt. = 101.9
Refractive Index 1.665-1.680, 1.63-1.65

Hazards and Safety

Inhalation of dust may cause irritation. Fire retardant.

International Chemical Safety Card

Comparisons

Properties of Common Abrasives


Authority

  • G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 34
  • Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
  • Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
  • R.M.Organ, Design for Scientific Conservation of Antiquities, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, 1968
  • Pam Hatchfield, Pollutants in the Museum Environment, Archetype Press, London, 2002
  • Robert Fournier, Illustrated Dictionary of Practical Pottery, Chilton Book Company, Radnor, PA, 1992
  • The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 369
  • Encyclopedia Britannica, http://www.britannica.com Comment: "Alumina." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2003. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. 02 Dec, 2003 .
  • CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: ref. index=1.665-1.680, 1.63-1.65
  • Van Nostrand's Scientific Encyclopedia, Douglas M. Considine (ed.), Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 1976
  • Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
  • The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

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