Combustion Synthesis of Aluminum Nitride From Dross

Abstract

For effective use of aluminum dross and development of cost-effective refractory with high thermal conductivity, the combustion synthesis of aluminum nitride was experimentally studied, in which effect of metallic aluminum concentration of a raw material and nitrogen pressure on ignition was mainly examined by using a newly-designed equipment. Once one end of powder mixture of aluminum and alumina was ignited at nitrogen atmosphere, combustion wave of exothermic reaction (Al+0.5N2=AlN) propagated to another end of the powder successfully. With decreasing the aluminum concentration and the nitrogen pressure, the propagating rate decreased. In decreasing the concentration and/or the pressure extremely, it was quite difficult to ignite it. Relationship between nitrogen pressure and aluminum concentration for the possible combustion synthesis of aluminum nitride was expressed in the diagram. This map appealed that aluminum dross can be a raw material of the combustion synthesis for producing aluminum nitride industrially by controlling the conditions.