Alumina 96
also 96% Alumina Substrate
Alumina 96 is a 96 % Al₂O₃ technical ceramic densified with glassy silicate sintering aids, available sintered, as-fired or tape cast (96% Alumina Substrate).
Reference datasheet — Alumina 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 Sintered condition
Alumina 96 tempers and conditions
Alumina 96 is supplied in 2 conditions, soft to hard. Sintered 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
unground kiln surface, net-shape tolerances | Cheapest route for insulators, liners and tubes where ±1 % dimensional tolerance and Ra 0.6–1.5 µm surface are acceptable; surface flaws lower bend strength ~10 %. | 170 | 0 | 1,150 HV | 24 W/m·K | |
SinteredDefault pressed and sintered, ground/lapped surfaces | Standard dense 96% body with diamond-ground or lapped functional surfaces — pick for seal faces, plungers, bearings and dimensionally toleranced parts. | 190 | 0 | 1,150 HV | 25 W/m·K |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways Alumina 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 |
What is Alumina 96?
Alumina 96 is a 96 % Al₂O₃ technical ceramic densified with glassy silicate sintering aids, available sintered, as-fired or tape cast (96% Alumina Substrate). It is the low-cost choice for electronic substrates, insulators and as-fired pressed or extruded shapes where the ultimate strength and purity of the 99.5 % grade are not required. Tensile strength is 190 MPa, thermal conductivity 25 W/m·K and maximum service temperature 1500 °C; the glass phase lowers strength and chemical resistance, the material is not weldable, and post-fire machining needs diamond tooling (machinability score 5). Alumina 99.5 is the step up. Alumina 96 has a density of 3.72 g/cm³ (0.134 lb/in³), lighter than 62% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,750°C (3,182 °F). Alumina 96 has a tensile strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi), stronger than 57% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 300 GPa (43.5 Msi).
What is Alumina 96 used for?
- Thick-film circuit substrates
- Spark plug insulators
- Electrical bushings
- High-voltage and vacuum feedthroughs
- Insulating washers and standoffs
- Wear-resistant liners and guides
Advantages
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 88% of ceramic grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.2 kg CO₂/kg, better than 84% of ceramic grades
- High service temperature — 1,500°C (2,732 °F), better than 80% of ceramic grades
Alumina 96 properties
Typical room-temperature values for Alumina 96-Sintered; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
Alumina 96 has a density of 3.72 g/cm³ (0.134 lb/in³), lighter than 62% of ceramic grades. It melts at 1,750°C (3,182 °F).
Mechanical13
Alumina 96 has a tensile strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi), stronger than 57% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 300 GPa (43.5 Msi).
Thermal5
Alumina 96 is rated for continuous service to 1,500°C (2,732 °F). It conducts heat at 25 W/m·K (14.4 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 55% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 7 µm/m·K (3.89 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
Alumina 96 is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 15 kV/mm (381 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 Alumina 96 takes about 52 MJ of energy and emits 3.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 81% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
Alumina 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. Alumina 96 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Alumina 96
Is Alumina 96 easy to machine?
Green or bisque machine wherever possible; after firing only diamond grinding, lapping, ultrasonic or laser drilling — allow ~15–20 % firing shrinkage on all dimensions.
Can Alumina 96 be welded?
Not weldable; join by Mo-Mn metallizing + Ni plating and brazing, active-metal (Ti) brazing, glass sealing or structural adhesive.
Can Alumina 96 be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped by dry pressing, isostatic pressing, extrusion, slip casting, injection moulding or tape casting, then sintered at 1500–1650 °C in air.
Alumina 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Al2O3alpha-alumina main phase | 95 – 97 | 96 |
| SiO2glass former | 1.5 – 3 | 2.4 |
| MgOgrain-growth inhibitor / sintering aid | 0.3 – 1.2 | 0.8 |
| CaOliquid-phase sintering aid | 0.2 – 1 | 0.6 |
| Na2O + Fe2O3 + otherresidual impurities | ≥ 0 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Alumina 96?
Lapping/polishing to Ra <0.1 µm for seal faces; thick-film metallization, laser scribing and thin Ni/Au plating over metallized pads are standard for electronics.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Alumina 96 in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- 96% Alumina Substrate
How much does Alumina 96 cost?
Alumina 96 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 98% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Alumina 96 — frequently asked
What is Alumina 96 used for?
Alumina 96 is typically used for thick-film circuit substrates, spark plug insulators, electrical bushings, high-voltage and vacuum feedthroughs, insulating washers and standoffs and wear-resistant liners and guides. In short: workhorse technical alumina.
What is the tensile strength of Alumina 96?
Alumina 96 has a typical tensile strength of 190 MPa (27.6 ksi) — stronger than 57% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 2 listed tempers.
Is Alumina 96 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades). Green or bisque machine wherever possible; after firing only diamond grinding, lapping, ultrasonic or laser drilling — allow ~15–20 % firing shrinkage on all dimensions.
Can Alumina 96 be welded?
Not weldable; join by Mo-Mn metallizing + Ni plating and brazing, active-metal (Ti) brazing, glass sealing or structural adhesive.
What surface finishes work on Alumina 96?
Lapping/polishing to Ra <0.1 µm for seal faces; thick-film metallization, laser scribing and thin Ni/Au plating over metallized pads are standard for electronics.
Can Alumina 96 be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped by dry pressing, isostatic pressing, extrusion, slip casting, injection moulding or tape casting, then sintered at 1500–1650 °C in air.
What is the maximum service temperature of Alumina 96?
Alumina 96 is rated for continuous use to about 1,500°C (2,732 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Alumina 96 cost?
Alumina 96 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 98% 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
- AD-96 Alumina material properties — CoorsTek (2023)
- Fine Ceramics — Alumina A-473/96% characteristics — Kyocera (2022)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- ASTM C1161 / C773 — flexural and compressive strength of advanced ceramics — ASTM (2018)
- CES/Granta EduPack — technical alumina eco-properties — Ansys Granta (2023)
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.