Interface Science, vol.8, no.2, pp.257-267, 2000 (SCI-Expanded)
Single crystals of α-alumina with {0001}, {11̄20} and {01̄12} orientations were embedded in a matrix of liquid phase sintered alumina to study α-alumina single crystal growth in the presence of a calcium aluminosilicate liquid. Growth on the {11̄20} and {01̄12} surfaces was observed to occur by a diffusion-controlled mechanism while growth on the basal surface was controlled by two-dimensional nucleation. Growth models, which incorporate the change in matrix grain size, were derived and shown to fit the growth kinetics.