alpha or beta alumina

[Flesh]

I have an alumina ceramic sample. I would like to know what phase(s) is present (alpha, beta, etc?). How would one go about determining this other than an XRD technique?

 

[emoose]

Beta is extremely hydroscopic. If it has not been kept frozen or in a controlled atmosphere it will crumble in a matter of weeks. If it's been around for a while it's most likely not beta.

 

[Flesh]

Ah, that is very interesting. Thank you for your reply! My material is very well intact. I will be attempting to verify my material via an EBSD technique.

 

[Flesh]

After many months, I found that EBSD is a viable technique to characterize my material. It so happens that the sample was 99.7% alpha-alumina (and 0.03 wt% beta) and no gamma.