PREPARATION OF ALUMINUM NITRIDE POWDER FROM A (HYDROXO)(SUCCINATO)ALUMINIUM(III) COMPLEX

Aluminium nitride (AlN) powder was prepared by using a (hydroxo)(succinato)aluminium(III) complex as a new precursor. The AlN powder was obtained by calcining the complex without mixing any carbon source under a flow of nitrogen in the temperature range 1200-1500-degrees-C and then burning out the residual carbon. The complex began to decompose at ca. 400-degrees-C and turned into gamma-alumina at temperatures > 600-degrees-C. Carbothermal reduction and nitridation of the gamma-alumina, resulting in the formation of AlN commenced at ca. 1200-degrees-C without gamma-alpha alumina transition. A short time at the higher calcination temperature was more likely to favour complete nitridation than a long time at the lower calcination temperature. The AlN powders prepared were ultrafine, and their particle size depended on the calcination temperature and duration of calcination.