Gel-tape-casting of aluminum nitride ceramics

Abstract

Aluminum nitride ceramic sheets were formed for the first time by a novel and simple method, namely gel-tape-casting process, where only two additives were used to prepare the slurries. PIBM (a water-soluble copolymer of isobutylene and maleic anhydride) acted as both dispersant and gelling agent, and PEG (polyethylene glycol) acted as plasticizer. Combining the advantages of gel-casting and tape-casting processes, flexible and uniform green tapes were obtained. The rheological properties of AlN slurries were studied to optimize the PIBM content and solids loading. After drying and debinding, the green sheets were sintered at 1840 °C in N2 atmosphere. Homogeneous microstructure with average grain size of about 7 μm was observed in the final AlN ceramics. Thermal conductivity of the AlN ceramics was 161 W/(m·K).