Fine-grained AlN ceramics from nanopowder by spark plasma sintering

Abstract

Aluminum nitride nanopowder was fabricated from transition alumina nanopowder by gas reductionnitridation method. It was sintered by spark plasma sintering with 1wt%Ca3Al2O6 as a sintering additive in nitrogen. The nanopowder with Ca3Al2O6 was densified up to 3.16Mg/m3 of density at 1450°C, restraining grain growth. The nanopowder without additive was densified at 1550°C. The sintering temperature for dense aluminum nitride ceramic could be reduced by 1wt% Ca3Al2O6 as a sintering additive. © 2010 The Ceramic Society of Japan. All rights reserved.