In this report the wetting behaviour between polycrystalline alumina substrates and molten aluminium doped with magnesium as a wetting agent has been studied using the sessile drop technique. The time required for equilibrium attainment is investigated. To explore the formation of possible phases at the interface, electron microscopic studies along with EDX analysis have been employed. It is found that magnesium reduces the time and temperature required for equilibrium in the Al/Al2O3 system. The Al-7 wt% Mg and Al-10 wt% Mg alloys can wet alumina at temperatures as low as 900 degrees C. It is also found that molten aluminium doped with magnesium can wet polycrystalline alumina at temperatures below 1000 degrees C. A thin reaction layer was observed at the Al-Mg/Al2O3 interface in the present study. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.