Preparation of Sinterable Cubic Aluminum Oxynitride by the Carbothermal Nitridation of Aluminum Oxide

Sinterable cubic aluminum oxy nitride (ALON) has been prepared by carbon reduction of aluminum oxide inflowing nitrogen. Three different sources of Al2O3 (A12O3 from clay, commercial A12O3, and A12O3 derived from AlCl3.6H2O) and two different sources of carbon (carbon black and starch) were used. Pressed pellets of ALON powder were sintered in N2 at 1950°C greater than 95% of theoretical density.