Aluminium oxide is an amphoteric oxide of aluminium with the chemical formula Al2O3. It is also commonly referred to as alumina, corundum, sapphire, ruby or aloxite in the mining, ceramic and materials science communities. It is produced by the Bayer process from bauxite. Its most significant use is in the production of aluminium metal, although it is also used as an abrasive due to its hardness and as a refractory material due to its high meltin...
more
Aluminium oxide is an amphoteric oxide of aluminium with the chemical formula Al2O3. It is also commonly referred to as alumina, corundum, sapphire, ruby or aloxite in the mining, ceramic and materials science communities. It is produced by the Bayer process from bauxite. Its most significant use is in the production of aluminium metal, although it is also used as an abrasive due to its hardness and as a refractory material due to its high melting point.
Corundum is the most common naturally-occurring crystalline form of aluminium oxide. Much less-common rubies and sapphires are gem-quality forms of corundum with their characteristic colors due to trace impurities in the corundum structure. Rubies are given their characteristic deep red color and their laser qualities by traces of the metallic element chromium. Sapphires come in different colors given by various other impurities, such as iron and titanium.
Aluminium oxide is an electrical insulator but has a relatively high thermal...
less
