Growth and properties of K ₂ Al ₂ B ₂ O ₇ crystal

The flux systems for the growth of crystalline K ₂ Al ₂ B ₂ O ₇ (KABO) are discussed. KABO can be grown from both KF and NaF flux by a top-seeded growth method. It is easier to grow the crystal in NaF flux than to do so in KF flux. Seed directions influence the quality and morphology of the KABO crystal. The average thermal expansion coefficients are experimentally determined to be 8.4x10 ^{- 6} /K, 1.65x10 ^{- 5} /K along a-axis and c-axis, respectively. The specific heat was measured over a range of temperature 30-295 ^o C, which is double that of crystalline BBO. Some other data on the chemical and physical properties of KABO are also presented.