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Material World

Aluminium oxide vs Corundum

Aluminium oxide and Corundum share a composition and differ on 1 measured property — the question a reader asks about any pair of polymorphs.

Aluminium oxide vs Corundum

These are different kinds of thing (compound, mineral). Fewer properties mean the same thing across both, so a like-for-like reading may not be available.

Aluminium oxide

Al2O3

Industrial alumina — the refined intermediate between bauxite and aluminium metal, and a major ceramic in its own right.

Corundum

Al2O3

Aluminium oxide — hardness 9, the mineral of ruby and sapphire, and a major industrial abrasive.

Property comparison of Aluminium oxide and Corundum
PropertyAluminium oxideCorundum
Crystal system

Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare.

Not knowntrigonal
Density3.987 g/cm³3.95–4.1 g/cm³ higher
Lustre

Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare.

Not knownvitreous to adamantine
Melting point

Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare.

2072 °CNot known
Mohs hardness

Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare.

Not known9
Molar mass

Only one of the two has a figure we can stand behind, so there is nothing to compare.

101.96 g/molNot known

Other comparisons