High-pressure direct synthesis of aluminium nitride

Abstract

We report the results of direct synthesis of aluminium nitride (AlN) under highnitrogen pressure up to 1 GPa and temperatures up to 2000 K. At pressure from10 to 650 MPa we observe the combustion synthesis of AlN. As the result of thecombustion process one can obtain the AlN sintered powder or AlN/Al metalmatrix composites. For N2 pressure higher than 650 MPa the crystal growth ofAlN from the solution of atomic nitrogen in aluminium is possible. Bothneedle-like and bulk AlN single crystals, up to 1 cm and 1 mm, respectively, havebeen obtained.