Preparation of aluminum nitride-silicon carbide nanocomposite powder by the nitridation of aluminum silicon carbide

Aluminum nitride (AlN)-silicon carbide (SiC) nanocomposite powders were prepared by the nitridation of aluminum-silicon carbide (Al4SiC4) with the specific surface area of 15.5 m2·g-1. The powders nitrided at and above 1400°C for 3 h contained the 2H-phases which consisted of AlN-rich and SiC-rich phases. The formation of homogeneous solid solution proceeded with increasing nitridation temperature from 1400° up to 1500°C. The specific surface area of the AlN-SiC powder nitrided at 1500°C for 3 h was 19.5 m2·g-1, whereas the primary particle size (assuming spherical particles) was estimated to be 100 nm.