Structure of Liquid Aluminum Oxide

Journal Article · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.464· OSTI ID:439079

Ansell, S; Beno, M A; Price, D L; Saboungi, M ^[1]; Krishnan, S; Weber, J R; Felten, J J; Nordine, P C ^[2]

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1. Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 (United States)
2. Containerless Research, Inc., Evanston, Illinois 60201 (United States)

The total structure factor, S(Q), and the corresponding radial distribution function, G(r), for supercooled and stable liquid aluminum oxide have been measured with x-ray synchrotron radiation. The specimens were levitated in a conical nozzle and melted with a laser, achieving temperatures in the range of 2200{endash}2700K. The first two peaks in S(Q) reveal intermediate-range order and dense random packing of atoms, similar to that observed in many network liquids. The first two peaks in G(r) are consistent with AlO{sub 4}{sup 5-} structural units and show that Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} undergoes a major structural rearrangement on melting with an Al coordination change from octahedral to tetrahedral. The structure does not change appreciably with temperature in the stable and supercooled liquid. Implications of these results are discussed in connection with the solidification of aluminum oxide. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 439079
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 78; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
66 PHYSICS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
ANL
LASER-RADIATION HEATING
LEVITATION
LIQUIDS
MELTING
STRUCTURE FACTORS
SYNCHROTRON RADIATION
X-RAY DIFFRACTION