Full definition
Aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) ceramic tiles, bricks, and linings providing extreme hardness (1,500-1,800 HV Vickers — 3x harder than hardened steel) for protecting surfaces against fine-particle sliding abrasion in mining, cement, and material handling. Purity grades: 85% Al₂O₃ (economical), 92% (standard industrial), 95% (premium), and 99.5% (ultra-premium for extreme wear). Properties: compressive strength 2,000-3,000 MPa, density 3.5-3.9 g/cm³, operating temperature to 1,200°C, chemically inert to most acids and alkalis. Tile formats: flat tiles (10-50 mm thick), shaped tiles (for pipes, elbows, cyclones), cylinder liners, and weld-on buttons. Installation: epoxy adhesive (most common for mining), mechanical clips, or welded studs. Ceramic excels at: low-angle sliding abrasion (<30° impact angle), fine particles (<5 mm), and high-temperature applications. Limitations: brittle — cracks under heavy impact from large particles (>25 mm) or point loads; in impact-heavy zones, use rubber or rubber-ceramic composite. Ceramic drum lagging (alumina tiles in rubber matrix) provides both high friction and extreme wear resistance on conveyor drive drums. Brands: CeramTec, Rema Tip Top (Remaline), Kingcera, Cabot Novamet. Per ISO 14705 for mechanical property testing.