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Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Glass

Compare Ceramic Alumina 96% vs. Glass strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

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Ceramic Alumina 96%Sintered ceramic (pressed and fired)
GlassNatural
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Mechanical
Yield strengthnot given (tensile used)not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength221MPasourcetypical tensile strength, 25 °C (ACMA Test #4)41MPasourcetypical mean surface tensile stress at fracture (MOR), 60 s load, weathered, 50% breakage probability
Compressive strength2,068MPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C773)not sourced
Flexural strength358MPasourceflexural strength (MOR), 20 °C (ASTM-F417)41MPasourcemean MOR (same value as tensile)
Elongation at breaknot sourcednot sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)303GPasourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848)72GPasourcetypical
Density3,720kg/m³sourcetypical (ASTM-C20)2,500kg/m³sourcetypical
Strength to weight59.4kN·m/kg3.62x higher16.4kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight81.5MN·m/kg2.83x higher28.8MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio0.21sourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C848)0.22sourcetypical
Shear modulus125GPa4.24x stiffer in shear29.5GPa
Bulk modulus174GPa42.9GPa
Speed of sound9,025m/s5,367m/s
Thermal
Thermal conductivity24.7W/m·Ksourcetypical, 20 °C (ASTM-C408)0.937W/m·Ksourcetypical at 75 F
Thermal expansion8.2µm/m·Ksourcemean, 25-1000 °C (ASTM-C372)8.3µm/m·Ksourcetypical, 75-575 F
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing41µm growth1% less41.5µm growth
Specific heat880J/kg·Ksourcetypical, 100 °C (ASTM-E1269)880J/kg·Ksourcetypical at 75 F
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)7.55mm²/s17.7x faster0.426mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance1,736W/m34.6x more resistant50.1W/m
Max service temperaturenot sourced511°Csourcestrain point (ASTM C336) - stress-relaxation onset, not a rated service limit
Values forCoorsTek AD-96, nominal 96% Al2O3 sintered alumina, typical values; CoorsTek "Ceramic Seal Material Properties" (© 2018, 01899 F). AD-96 is the general 96% grade, not the ADS-96R substrate grade.Annealed soda-lime-silica float glass, Pilkington North America Technical Bulletin ATS-129 (04/2025)

Every value links to the document that states it. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

Questions

Is Ceramic Alumina 96% stronger than Glass?

Ceramic Alumina 96% is stronger: its tensile strength is 221 MPa against 41 MPa for Glass (5.39x).

Which is lighter, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Glass?

Glass is lighter: 2,500 kg/m³ against 3,720 kg/m³ for Ceramic Alumina 96%.

Which is stiffer, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Glass?

Ceramic Alumina 96% is stiffer: Young's modulus 303 GPa against 72 GPa for Glass, so the same part in Ceramic Alumina 96% deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Glass?

For the same stiffness or strength: Ceramic Alumina 96% is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must beCeramic Alumina 96%Glass
Stiff rod or tie (tension)lighter2.83x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)lighter38% heavier
Stiff panel or platelighter9% heavier
Strong rod or tielighter3.62x heavier
Strong beamlighter2.07x heavier
Strong panel or platelighter1.56x heavier

For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).

Which conducts heat better, Ceramic Alumina 96% or Glass?

Ceramic Alumina 96% conducts heat better: 24.7 W/m·K against 0.937 W/m·K for Glass.

Which expands less with temperature?

Ceramic Alumina 96% expands less: 8.2 µm/m·K against 8.3 µm/m·K for Glass.

Among 72 materials

1k10k0.1110100Density (kg/m³)Young's modulus (GPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Steel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconCeramic Aluminum NitrideAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Ceramic Alumina 96%Glass
Stiffness against density
1k10k101001kDensity (kg/m³)Yield strength (MPa)Plastic PLAPlastic PETGPlastic ABSPlastic TPUPlastic NylonRubberAluminumSteelIronTitaniumSteel AISI 1018Stainless Steel 304Stainless Steel 316Aluminum 6061-T6Aluminum 7075-T6Brass C360Copper C110Steel AISI 1045Steel AISI 4340Steel A992Stainless Steel 303Stainless Steel 17-4PHAluminum 2024-T351Aluminum 5052-H32Aluminum 7050-T7451Titanium Ti-6Al-4VBrass C260Nickel Inconel 718Magnesium AZ31B-H24Zinc Zamak 3Plastic ABS (bulk/injection)Plastic PolycarbonatePlastic POM/AcetalPlastic Nylon PA6Plastic Nylon PA66Plastic PEEKPlastic PTFEPlastic UHMWPEPlastic HDPEPlastic PolypropylenePlastic PMMAFDM ASAFDM PolycarbonateFDM PAHT-CFFDM HIPSSLA Resin Tough 2000SLA Resin Elastic 50ASLS PA12 NylonDMLS AlSi10Mg AluminumDMLS Ti-6Al-4V ELI TitaniumDMLS 316L Stainless SteelDMLS 17-4PH Stainless SteelBrickPCB Laminate FR-4SiliconAluminum A380Aluminum 6063-T6Aluminum 1100-OAluminum ADC12Magnesium AZ91DSolder SAC305Plastic PBT GF30Plastic PPS GF40Plastic LCP GF30Ceramic Alumina 96%Glass
Strength against density

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