The rate of dissolution of alumina micro-particles in liquid CaOaaaSiO2aaaAl2O3 based oxides has been investigated using laser scanning confocal microscopy. Over the temperature range investigated (1477aaa1577aaC) it was found that the rate controlling mechanism was mass transfer control in the liquid oxide phase. Alumina diffusion coefficients measured during this study are of the order 10aaa11 to 10aaa10m2saaa1 and are in reasonable agreement with previously reported data.