Al2O3-96%
JIS C2141 A-96
Al2O3-96% (JIS C2141 A-96) is the industry-standard 96 % alumina ceramic used as an electrically insulating, thermally conductive substrate for thick- and thin-film hybrid circuits and power modules.
Reference datasheet — Al2O3-96% is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the AS-FIRED condition
Al2O3-96% tempers and conditions
Al2O3-96% is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. AS-FIRED is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 2 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black 96% alumina | Use where optical opacity, low light reflection or laser-marking contrast is needed (sensor housings, optics mounts, semiconductor tooling). | 165 | 0 | 1,150 HV | 22 W/m·K | |
AS-FIREDDefault standard pressed/sintered 96% alumina, as-fired surface | Default choice for thick-film hybrid substrates, insulators, tubes and wear parts where Ra ≈ 0.4–0.8 µm as-fired surface is acceptable. | 172 | 1,200 HV | 24 W/m·K |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Al2O3-96% is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
TAPE-CAST | Tape-cast substrate | Supply form |
LAPPED | Lapped / polished | Surface finish |
What is Al2O3-96%?
Al2O3-96% (JIS C2141 A-96) is the industry-standard 96 % alumina ceramic used as an electrically insulating, thermally conductive substrate for thick- and thin-film hybrid circuits and power modules. It is available as-fired, tape-cast, lapped or in black 96 % form, with 172 MPa tensile strength, 24 W/(m.K) thermal conductivity and service to 1500 C. Corrosion resistance is high (score 92), but the fired body has a machinability score of 5 and can only be diamond processed, so all features should be formed green. Al2O3-99.5% is the alternative where higher conductivity and a finer surface are needed. Al2O3-96% has a density of 3.72 g/cm³ (0.134 lb/in³), lighter than 62% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,000°C (3,632 °F). Al2O3-96% has a tensile strength of 172 MPa (24.9 ksi), stronger than 57% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 300 GPa (43.5 Msi).
What is Al2O3-96% used for?
- hybrid IC substrates
- thick-film circuits
- power module insulators
- chip resistor bodies
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 88% of ceramic grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.1 kg CO₂/kg, better than 86% of ceramic grades
- High service temperature — 1,500°C (2,732 °F), better than 80% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 60/100, worse than 79% of ceramic grades
Al2O3-96% properties
Typical room-temperature values for Al2O3-96%-AS-FIRED; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
Al2O3-96% has a density of 3.72 g/cm³ (0.134 lb/in³), lighter than 62% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,000°C (3,632 °F).
Mechanical12
Al2O3-96% has a tensile strength of 172 MPa (24.9 ksi), stronger than 57% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 300 GPa (43.5 Msi).
Thermal5
Al2O3-96% is rated for continuous service to 1,500°C (2,732 °F). It conducts heat at 24 W/m·K (13.9 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 53% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 6.5 µm/m·K (3.61 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
Al2O3-96% is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 16 kV/mm (406.4 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 88% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Al2O3-96% takes about 51 MJ of energy and emits 3.1 kg of CO₂ — less than 82% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
Al2O3-96%'s machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the ceramic family
Yield strength against density for every ceramic grade FabDigit runs. Al2O3-96% is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Al2O3-96%
Is Al2O3-96% easy to machine?
Machine in the green/bisque state with carbide tooling (allow ~15–20% firing shrinkage); after sintering only diamond grinding, lapping, ultrasonic or laser drilling/scribing are practical.
Can Al2O3-96% be welded?
Not weldable — join by Mo-Mn + Ni brazing, active-metal (Ti) brazing, glass frit sealing, DBC/DPC metallization or epoxy bonding.
Can Al2O3-96% be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by dry pressing, isostatic pressing, extrusion, tape casting or injection molding of spray-dried powder, then sintered at ~1500–1600 °C in air.
Al2O3-96% chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Al2O3main phase, alpha-alumina | 95 – 96.9 | 96 |
| SiO2glass-former of grain-boundary phase | 1.5 – 3 | 2.4 |
| CaOsintering aid | 0.2 – 1.2 | 0.7 |
| MgOgrain-growth inhibitor / sintering aid | 0.2 – 1.2 | 0.7 |
| Fe2O3 + Na2O + K2O + TiO2residual impurities | 0 – 0.3 | 0.2 |
What surface finishes work on Al2O3-96%?
As-fired Ra ≈ 0.4–0.8 µm; lapping/polishing reaches Ra ≤ 0.1 µm for thin film; metallize with thick-film Ag/AgPd/Au pastes, Mo-Mn+Ni plating, or sputtered Ti/Cu for DPC.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Al2O3-96% in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- JIS
- C2141 A-96
- Also called
- 96% Al2O3
How much does Al2O3-96% cost?
Al2O3-96% is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Al2O3-96% — frequently asked
What is Al2O3-96% used for?
Al2O3-96% is typically used for hybrid IC substrates, thick-film circuits, power module insulators and chip resistor bodies. In short: standard hybrid circuit substrate; lower cost than 99.5 % alumina; thick-film metallization ready.
What is the tensile strength of Al2O3-96%?
Al2O3-96% has a typical tensile strength of 172 MPa (24.9 ksi) — stronger than 57% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is Al2O3-96% easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades). Machine in the green/bisque state with carbide tooling (allow ~15–20% firing shrinkage); after sintering only diamond grinding, lapping, ultrasonic or laser drilling/scribing are practical.
Can Al2O3-96% be welded?
Not weldable — join by Mo-Mn + Ni brazing, active-metal (Ti) brazing, glass frit sealing, DBC/DPC metallization or epoxy bonding.
What surface finishes work on Al2O3-96%?
As-fired Ra ≈ 0.4–0.8 µm; lapping/polishing reaches Ra ≤ 0.1 µm for thin film; metallize with thick-film Ag/AgPd/Au pastes, Mo-Mn+Ni plating, or sputtered Ti/Cu for DPC.
Can Al2O3-96% be formed, bent or molded?
Formed by dry pressing, isostatic pressing, extrusion, tape casting or injection molding of spray-dried powder, then sintered at ~1500–1600 °C in air.
What is the maximum service temperature of Al2O3-96%?
Al2O3-96% is rated for continuous use to about 1,500°C (2,732 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Al2O3-96% cost?
Al2O3-96% is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- JIS C 2141 — Testing methods of ceramic insulators for electrical and electronic applications — JSA (1992)
- ASTM F417 / ASTM C1161 — Flexural strength of ceramic substrates and advanced ceramics — ASTM (2018)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- 96% Alumina (AD-96 class) technical ceramic datasheet — CoorsTek (2023)
- Alumina ceramic substrate material properties (A-473 / A-476) — Kyocera (2022)
- Technical ceramics property tables (alumina 96%) — MatWeb / Granta-type dataset (2024)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.