The article together with the alumina core in situ is placed in a sealable vessel containing a concentrated aqueous potassium hydroxide leaching liquor at a temperature immediately below its normal atmospheric boiling point. The vessel is sealed and the pressure within the vessel is reduced to less than atmospheric pressure so as to induce boiling and agitation of the leaching liquor within the passage in the article. The pressure in the vessel is raised to atmospheric pressure and finally spent leaching liquor together with leached alumina core is removed from within the article.