High Purity Alumina (HPA)
Project goal:
Develop energy and cost-efficient novel technologies for HPA production to support the development of downstream high value Australian manufacturing industries, such
as synthetic sapphire glass.
Challenge / Opportunity:
- HPA is used in semi-conductors, lasers, LED lighting, sapphire glass, catalysts, and lithium-ion batteries. Its versatility is attributed to superior chemical stability, remarkable scratch resistance, and the ability to withstand extreme temperatures.
- Australia has plentiful supply of aluminium-containing resources and potential to move downstream into high-tech manufacturing. The global HPA market is projected to increase from USD 4.63 billion in 2024 to over USD 15 billion by 2030, which presents a significant opportunity for Australia.
- HPA is a refined form of aluminium oxide currently produced from high purity aluminium metal, an expensive feedstock that requires three energy intensive and expensive industrial processes (bauxite refining, alumina smelting, and HPA production). The purest form of HPA (99.9999%) has a market value that can exceed USD 70,000 per tonne.
Project status:
- CSIRO has developed innovative step change improvements in processing routes for different feedstocks, which have a lower carbon footprint and are more cost effective than incumbent technologies.
- It has built a small pilot plant to demonstrate the technology and is working with the nascent HPA industry to build analytical capability.
- Intellectual property and analytical techniques needed to accurately quantify low levels of trace impurities will benefit Australia’s emerging industry and could support
future production of synthetic sapphire glass. Investment in a trusted analytical facility or network will be needed to unlock Australia’s potential in this emerging industry.
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