The mechanism of formation of protective scales of α-Al₂O₃ on surfaces of binary M-Al (M = Fe, Ni or Co) alloys at high temperatures has been studied. Activated aluminum oxides having different acidities and water concentrations (having Brockmann activity I-V) can easily detect various types of water (namely free water, pore water, and bound water) on the aluminum oxide present in soils.

Aluminum oxide (Alumina, Al₂O₃) has been used in the preparation of one-step self-assembled double-helices of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) arrays (composed of Fe nanoparticles bound to SiO_x micro-particles).

Aluminum oxide (neutral) has been used in the preparation of alumina supported silver (Ag/Al₂O₃) catalyst suitable for selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by hydrocarbons (HC-SCR).

Brockmann aluminum oxides are suitable for column chromatography and adsorptive filtration.