SILICATES INDUSTRIELS, cilt.69, ss.305-310, 2004 (SCI-Expanded)
In this study, AlN powder has been produced by the carbothermal reduction and nitridation of Seydisehir alumina under flow of nitrogen gas. Starting alumina powder which has 35 m average particle size and angular shape was wet mixed with carbon black in weight ratio of 1:1 (Al2O3:C) in a ball mill for 6 hours. After wet milling, average particle size of mixture was measured as 25 gym. Reduction and nitridation experiments have been performed in a horizontal tube furnace. Full conversion to AlN which is submicron size and spherical particles has been obtained at 1600degreesC for 1 hour or at 1500degreesC for 4 hours. The effects of reaction temperature (1400-1600degreesC) and time (0-240 min) on the reaction mechanism and morphologies of AlN powder have been investigated using XRD, SEM, BET and sedimentation methods.