Direct Bonding Copper (DBC) process was considered for bonding copper on aluminum nitride. To study influence of AN intergranular phases, the three yttrium aluminates (YAG, YAP, YAM) were formed by solid-solid reaction between Al2O3 and Y2O3 with optimal purity and densification. Microstructural and thermal characterizations were performed. Wettability experiments were conducted with pure and oxidized copper to simulate contacts between aluminates phases and copper during bonding of copper to aluminum nitride. The behaviour of copper on aluminates was found near to that of copper on oxidized aluminum nitride substrates used for Cu/AlN assemblies.