Spinel TRANS-HIP
Grade
Pick for visible-to-MWIR windows, missile domes and transparent armour where sapphire is too costly or too anisotropic.
Values for the TRANS-HIP condition
Other Spinel tempers and conditions
Spinel is listed in 4 conditions; see the grade overview at Spinel.
- SINT-DENSE
- TRANS-HIP
- SC
- REFR
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SINT-DENSEDefault pressureless-sintered dense polycrystalline spinel (opaque, >99 % TD) | Default technical-ceramic form: dense opaque spinel parts for semiconductor chamber components, kiln furniture and corrosion-exposed structural ceramics. | — | — | — | 1,350 HV | 15 W/m·K |
TRANS-HIPThis page transparent spinel, hot-pressed + HIP optical grade | Pick for visible-to-MWIR windows, missile domes and transparent armour where sapphire is too costly or too anisotropic. | — | — | — | 1,400 HV | 15 W/m·K |
Single-crystal spinel | Choose for epitaxial substrates (GaN, SOS-type), UV–IR laser windows and where zero grain-boundary scattering is required. | — | — | — | 1,450 HV | 24 W/m·K |
Refractory-grade spinel | Low-cost porous form for cement-kiln transition zones, steel-ladle linings and slag-resistant castables. | — | — | — | — | 6 W/m·K |
What is Spinel TRANS-HIP?
Spinel TRANS-HIP is Spinel in the TRANS-HIP grade — pick for visible-to-MWIR windows, missile domes and transparent armour where sapphire is too costly or too anisotropic. Spinel TRANS-HIP has a tensile strength of 120 MPa (17.4 ksi), stronger than 51% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 277 GPa (40.2 Msi). Spinel TRANS-HIP has a density of 3.58 g/cm³ (0.129 lb/in³), lighter than 65% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,135°C (3,875 °F). SINT-DENSE is the default condition FabDigit quotes; TRANS-HIP is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Polishes to a fine finish — 97/100, better than 100% of ceramic grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 93/100, better than 94% of ceramic grades
Spinel TRANS-HIP properties
Typical room-temperature values for Spinel TRANS-HIP; 16 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Spinel reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical5
Spinel TRANS-HIP has a density of 3.58 g/cm³ (0.129 lb/in³), lighter than 65% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,135°C (3,875 °F).
Mechanical11
Spinel TRANS-HIP has a tensile strength of 120 MPa (17.4 ksi), stronger than 51% of ceramic grades. The elastic modulus is 277 GPa (40.2 Msi).
Thermal5
Spinel TRANS-HIP is rated for continuous service to 1,200°C (2,192 °F). It conducts heat at 14.6 W/m·K (8.44 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 57% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 6 µm/m·K (3.33 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
Spinel TRANS-HIP 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 (93/100), better than 94% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Spinel TRANS-HIP takes about 75 MJ of energy and emits 6.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 69% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
Spinel TRANS-HIP's machinability is not recommended (3/100, worse than 95% of ceramic grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Spinel TRANS-HIP
Is Spinel easy to machine?
Green machining before firing is the economical route; fired parts require diamond grinding, lapping and ultrasonic/laser drilling with light passes to avoid subsurface damage.
Can Spinel be welded?
Not weldable — join by active-metal brazing (Ti/Ag-Cu), glass frit sealing or metallised Mo-Mn plus Ni plating for vacuum-tight assemblies.
Can Spinel be formed, bent or molded?
Uniaxial/isostatic pressing, slip or tape casting and injection moulding of fine MgAl2O4 powder; transparent grades need vacuum sintering or hot pressing followed by HIP at 1750–1900 °C / 150–200 MPa; allow ~15–18 % firing shrinkage.
What surface finishes work on Spinel?
Diamond lapping then colloidal-silica or CeO2 polishing gives optical λ/10 flatness and <1 nm Ra; AR coatings are applied for IR window use, and no anodising/plating is applicable.
Spinel 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 |
|---|---|---|
| MgOstoichiometric MgO·Al2O3; Al-rich (MgO·1.5–2Al2O3) grades are used for transparent and refractory products | 27 – 29.5 | 28.3 |
| LiFsintering aid used in hot-pressed transparent grades; removed/volatilised during HIP | 0 – 1 | 0.5 |
| SiO2+CaO+Fe2O3 (impurities)≤200 ppm total for optical grades | 0 – 0.5 | 0.1 |
| Al2O3 | ≥ 70.5 (balance) | — |
Spinel TRANS-HIP — frequently asked
What is Spinel TRANS-HIP used for?
Spinel TRANS-HIP is typically used for transparent armor/windows, refractory linings, IR domes and molten metal handling refractories. In short: transparent structural ceramic; optically isotropic cubic oxide; good thermal shock resistance.
What is the tensile strength of Spinel TRANS-HIP?
Spinel TRANS-HIP has a typical tensile strength of 120 MPa (17.4 ksi) — stronger than 51% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Spinel TRANS-HIP easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (3/100, worse than 95% of ceramic grades). Green machining before firing is the economical route; fired parts require diamond grinding, lapping and ultrasonic/laser drilling with light passes to avoid subsurface damage.
Can Spinel TRANS-HIP be welded?
Not weldable — join by active-metal brazing (Ti/Ag-Cu), glass frit sealing or metallised Mo-Mn plus Ni plating for vacuum-tight assemblies.
What surface finishes work on Spinel TRANS-HIP?
Diamond lapping then colloidal-silica or CeO2 polishing gives optical λ/10 flatness and <1 nm Ra; AR coatings are applied for IR window use, and no anodising/plating is applicable.
Can Spinel TRANS-HIP be formed, bent or molded?
Uniaxial/isostatic pressing, slip or tape casting and injection moulding of fine MgAl2O4 powder; transparent grades need vacuum sintering or hot pressing followed by HIP at 1750–1900 °C / 150–200 MPa; allow ~15–18 % firing shrinkage.
What is the maximum service temperature of Spinel TRANS-HIP?
Spinel TRANS-HIP is rated for continuous use to about 1,200°C (2,192 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Transparent Spinel Ceramic Window Material Data — Surmet / II-VI optical ceramics datasheets (2022)
- Technical Ceramics Material Properties — Spinel and Oxide Ceramics — CoorsTek / Kyocera (2023)
- ACerS-NIST Phase Equilibria Diagrams — MgO–Al2O3 system — American Ceramic Society / NIST (2018)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.