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?
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.
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.
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.