High-pressure direct synthesis of aluminium nitride

We report the results of direct synthesis of aluminium nitride (AlN) under high nitrogen pressure up to 1 GPa and temperatures up to 2000 K. At pressure from 10 to 650 MPa we observe the combustion synthesis of AlN. As the result of the combustion process one can obtain the AlN sintered powder or AlN/Al metal matrix composites. For N 2 pressure higher than 650 MPa the crystal growth of AlN from the solution of atomic nitrogen in aluminium is possible. Both needle-like and bulk AlN single crystals, up to 1 cm and 1 mm, respectively, have been obtained.