A dispersion containing aluminum oxide of pyrogenic origin and water, where the aluminum oxide is present in the form of aggregated primary particles with a BET surface area of 20 to 200 m2/g and has a mean, volume-based aggregate diameter in the dispersion of less than 100 nm, and is surface-modified with (i) organophosphonic acids, or salts thereof, and (ii) at least one hydroxycarboxylic acids or salts thereof.