Product Description
In the ever-evolving world of advanced materials, Zirconia-Toughened Alumina (ZTA) composite balls have emerged as a game-changer, especially in applications requiring high impact resistance. These innovative materials combine the strengths of alumina and zirconia, resulting in superior toughness and wear resistance.
Zirconia-Toughened Alumina (ZTA) is a composite material that integrates alumina and zirconia to enhance mechanical strength and fracture toughness. This combination leverages alumina's hardness and thermal stability with zirconia's superior fracture toughness, creating a material that is not only robust but also versatile across different applications.
- Increased Fracture Toughness: ZTA exhibits remarkable fracture toughness compared to other alumina-based materials, making it ideal for components subjected to impact loading.
- Excellent Wear Resistance: The sintering process of ZTA results in a smooth microstructure, providing superior wear performance.
- Good Thermal Conductivity: ZTA materials efficiently dissipate heat generated by friction, enhancing their durability in high-temperature applications.
ZTA composite balls are extensively used in various industrial applications due to their enhanced impact resistance and wear properties. Here are some key applications:
ZTA composite balls have revolutionized grinding media, offering 2 to 15 times better wear resistance than high alumina media. They are effectively used in vertical mills, horizontal mills, agitated media mills, and stirred media mills, providing superior performance and cost savings.
In mining operations, ZTA composite balls improve grinding efficiency, reduce contamination, and ensure longer product life cycles. Their high impact strength makes them suitable for both wet and dry grinding processes.
ZTA's toughness and chemical inertness make it ideal for cutting tools, bearings, pumps, and fluid management components. Their ability to withstand stress and resist chemical corrosion ensures reliability in demanding manufacturing environments.
Due to their biocompatibility and thermal resistance, ZTA composite balls are used in medical applications, including dental and orthopedic implants. In aerospace, their durability and stability under thermal stress are crucial for performance and safety.
ZTA composite balls boast exceptional mechanical properties, including high hardness, flexural strength, and compressive strength. These attributes make them suitable for applications where durability and impact resistance are paramount.
By incorporating zirconia into alumina, ZTA provides a cost-effective alternative to pure zirconia, addressing both performance and economic considerations. This makes ZTA an attractive choice for industries looking to optimize costs without compromising quality.
The zirconia content in ZTA can be tailored to meet specific application requirements, allowing for customization of properties such as toughness and thermal expansion. This flexibility ensures that ZTA can be adapted to diverse industrial needs.


●Chemical Composition:
| Composition | Al2O3 | SIO2 | CaO+MgO | Fe2O3 |
| Wt% | ≥92 | 7 max | ≤2 | <0.1 |
●Typical Properties:
| Specific Gravity g/cm3 | Bulk Density kg/L | Hardness Moh’s | Water Absorption % | Self wearing loss %(24hrs) | Compression Mpa |
| ≥3.65 | ≥2.2 | 9 | <0.01 | ≤0.012 | ≥2000 |
● Sizes Φ:
| Size(mm) | Size(mm) | Size(mm) | Size(mm) |
| 0.5-1.0 | 6.0 | 20.0 | 70.0 |
| 1.0 | 8.0 | 25.0 | 80.0 |
| 2.0 | 10.0 | 30.0 | 90.0 |
| 3.0 | 13.0 | 40.0 | 100.0 |
| 4.0 | 15.0 | 50.0 | |
| 5.0 | 18.0 | 60.0 | |
1. Mechanical & Physical Properties
| Property | Alumina (92%) | Alumina (99%) | Zirconia | Steel | Silica Sand |
| Density (g/cm³) | 3.6 | 3.9 | 6.0 | 7.8 | 2.2 |
| Hardness (Mohs/HV) | 9 (~1,500 HV) | 9 (~1,800 HV) | 8.5 | 6-7 | 7 |
| Wear Rate (g/ton) | 10–50 | 5–20 | 1–5 | 100+ | 300+ |
| Compressive Strength | 2,000 MPa | 2,500 MPa | 2,200 MPa | 500 MPa | Low |
Key Takeaways:
- 99% Alumina offers 30% lower wear than 92% grade.
- 2–5x longer lifespan vs. steel in abrasive slurries.
- Harder than zirconia but less tough (ideal for fine grinding).
2. Chemical & Thermal Resistance
| Property | Alumina (99%) | Performance Impact |
| Chemical Inertness | Resists pH 1–14 | Safe for acids/alkalis, pharmaceuticals. |
| Max Temperature | 1,600°C | Stable in kilns, calcination. |
| Thermal Shock | Moderate | Avoid rapid quenching (>200°C/min). |
| Contamination Risk | None | Zero metal ions (critical for Li-ion batteries). |
Vs. Competitors:
- Beats steel in corrosion resistance.
- Outperforms silica sand in wear & consistency.
3. Grinding Efficiency
- Particle Size Reduction: Achieves sub-micron fineness (D50 < 1µm) in wet/dry mills.
- Speed: Higher density (vs. silica) improves kinetic energy transfer.
- Consistency: Uniform shape/size prevents clogging in bead mills.
Best For:
- High-purity materials (e.g., ceramics, electronics powders).
- Slurry processing (paints, dyes).
4. Industry-Specific Performance
| Industry | Benefit of Alumina Balls |
| Mining | 50% lower replacement cost vs. steel in ore grinding. |
| Pharma | FDA-compliant, no endotoxin release. |
| Batteries | Prevents Fe/Ni contamination in cathode materials. |
| Paints | Maintains color purity (no metal leaching). |
5. Cost vs. Lifetime Analysis
| Media Type | Cost per kg | Lifespan (hours) | Cost per Ton Ground |
| Alumina (92%) | $5–10 | 2,000–3,000 | $0.50–1.00 |
| Steel | $2–4 | 500–800 | $2.00–4.00 |
| Zirconia | $50–100 | 5,000+ | $0.20–0.50 |
Trade-Off:
- Alumina balances cost and performance – Ideal when zirconia is over-spec.
Performance Summary: Why Choose Alumina?
✅ Cost-Effective: 3x cheaper than zirconia for moderate abrasion.
✅ High-Purity: 99.9% Al₂O₃ for sensitive applications (e.g., pharma).
✅ Versatile: Works in ball/attritor/planetary mills.
✅ Low Maintenance: Non-corrosive, easy to clean.
Limitations:
- Not for high-impact milling (e.g., hammer mills).
- Thermal shock risk in rapid cooling applications.
Need Custom Alumina Balls?
We supply:
- Sizes: 1mm–50mm (±0.01mm tolerance).
- Grades: 92%, 95%, 99%, ZTA-composite.
- Certifications: ISO 9001, RoHS, FDA (for pharma).
●Package:
25KG/woven bag,1000KG-1250KG for one pallet with shrink wrapped


Factory equipment

Exhibition & Partner

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Ship to UAE


Ship to Netherland


FAQ
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What are alumina ceramic balls made of?
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What are the key properties of alumina ceramic balls?
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High hardness, excellent wear resistance, chemical stability, high-temperature resistance (up to 1600°C), and electrical insulation.
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What are alumina ceramic balls used for?
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They are used as grinding media, bearing components, valve balls, and in applications requiring wear resistance and chemical inertness.
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Why choose alumina balls over steel or other ceramics?
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They offer superior wear resistance, chemical stability, and are lighter than steel, making them ideal for specific applications.
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What sizes are available for alumina ceramic balls?