The lattice parameters of α-alumina have been determined for temperatures in the range 20<T<1050 °C, using the lattice parameter of tungsten as a thermometer and a simple furnace in the diffractometer on the Australian beamline at the Photon Factory, Tsukuba, Japan. It is shown that the accuracy of this technique for measurement of cell parameters at temperatures up to ∼1200 °C is limited at present by uncertainty in the cell parameters of the reference material (i.e., tungsten) at high temperatures. Some problems with the equipment are discussed.
