Correlation Characteristics of the Volumetric Thermal Expansion Coefficient and Specific Heat of Corundum

The correlation between the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient (VLEC) o(T ) and specific heat C(T) of corundum alpha-Al2O3 is examined in detail. It is shown that there is a clear correlation o(C) not only at low temperatures (to about 50 K), where it is linear (Gruneisen's law), but also in a wider temperature range, viz., up to the melting point of corundum. Asignificant deviation from the low-temperature linear behavior of the temperature dependence of the VTEC o(C) occurs when the specific heat reaches the Dulong-Petit classical limit 5.3R. The results of the present work can be used to verify the data from primary calorimetric and dilatometric studies of ceramic and other materials.