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 Al 2 O 3 (A1 2 O 3 from clay, commercial A1 2 O 3 , and A1 2 O 3 derived from AlCl 3 .6H 2 O) and two different sources of carbon (carbon black and starch) were used. Pressed pellets of ALON powder were sintered in N 2 at 1950°C greater than 95% of theoretical density.