PROPERTIES OF SAPPHIRE
PHYSICAL
THERMAL
Chemical formula Al2O3 Thermal conductivity 0.065 cal cm-1 s-1 °C-1
Crystal structure Hexagonal system (rhombohedral)   (60° to c-axis) at 25 °C  
Unit cell dimension a = 4.758 Å , c = 12.991 Å Thermal expansion 8.40 x 10-6 °C-1
Density 3.98 g cm-3   coefficient  
Hardness 9 mohs, 1525-2000 Knoop   (60° to c-axis) 25 - 800 °C  
Melting point 2040 °C Specific heat at 25 °C 0.10 cal g-1
Boiling point 2980 °C Heat capacity at 25 °C 18.6 cal °C-1 mol-1
MECHANICAL*
ELECTRICAL
Tensile strength 40,000-60,000 psi (design criterion) Volume resistivity 1014 Ohm-cm
Flexural strength 70,000-130,000 psi (design criterion) Dielectric strength 480,000 V cm-1
Young's modulus 50 x 106 psi Dielectric constant  
Compressive modulus 55 x 106 psi   E perpendicular to c-axis 9.4
Flexural modulus 52 x 106 psi   E parallel to c-axis 11.5
Rigidity modulus 21.5 x 106 psi Dissipation factor, tan delta 10-4
Volumetric modulus of 35 x 106 psi    
 elasticity (bulk modulus)      
Poisson's ratio 0.29    
* psi = 6.9 kPa
Return