Al2O3/Al composites have been produced by the directed melt oxidation of Al with externally applied Zn containing dopants. Zn, ZnO and ZnAl2O4 are all shown to be capable of initiating the directed melt oxidation of Al without any Mg being present. The external surfaces of the reaction products were covered with a layer of ZnO overlaying a layer of ZnAl2O4, however, no Zn was observed within the composite bodies. Doping with ZnO or ZnAl2O4 resulted in a fine, dense ceramic microstructure and the amount of growth increased with increasing firing time and increasing ZnO or ZnAl2O4 content. Doping with Zn resulted in significantly less dense composites to those produced using ZnO or ZnAl2O4 and thus in the Zn system oxide and spinel dopants offer a significant advantage over using metallic Zn.