This September, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. starts mass production of the NXA Series ultra-fine α-alumina. The company adopted groundbreaking production technology in its established manufacturing capabilities at Ehime Works in Japan to manufacture these inorganic materials.

Collaborating with its customers, the company will create new markets in the ICT, energy-saving, and life science fields through technological innovations in inorganic materials. In FY2025, the company seeks to achieve a 30% increase in sales revenue in its ultrahigh purity alumina business compared to FY2023.

Specifically, an ultrahigh purity alumina is an alumina material made by calcining aluminum hydroxide at high temperatures with purity levels of 99.99% or more. The new NXA Series products are ultra-fine grade α-alumina products mainly used in industrial products. They feature homogeneous ultra-fine particles with a particle size of 150nm (0.15μm) or less. In comparison to its products, this is approximately 1/200 the size of the company’s products having relatively large particle sizes.

As a leader in the field of ultra-high purity alumina, Sumitomo Chemical offers a wide selection of product grades. Generally, they feature outstanding quality and stability and meet diverse customer needs. Alumina products are available in a wide range of applications, including energy-related sectors, such as lithium-ion battery separators. Also, the ICT sector, mainly for LED substrates and semiconductor thermal materials are main users of the products.

Meanwhile, the new grades feature ultrafine particles and easy-to-sinter characteristics. Thus, they are suitable as polishing agents for next-generation semiconductors. Also, they see adoption in cutting-edge areas as components for semiconductor manufacturing equipment requiring high strength and chemical resistance. Additionally, they see usage in new fields requiring both high strength and aesthetic qualities, such as artificial joints and dental products in the life sciences field.

Sumitomo Chemical will continue to expand its business in this field by driving technological inorganic innovation. It aims to provide timely solutions to its customers.