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Composition-Dependent Phase Evolution of Reactive-Sintered AlON

Shuixian Yang, Shuixian Yang, Xiaojian Mao, Run Tian, Jian Zhang, Shiwei Wang

Journal of Ceramic Science and Technology, Vol. 17, No. 2 (2026), pp. 159-166

DOI: 10.4416/JCST2025-00038

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Abstract

Based on an investigation of the reactive sintering behavior of Al2O3-AlN up to 1 950 °C, a comprehensive framework is established for understanding the multi-stage reactive sintering process of AlON ceramics. The process comprises four distinct stages: (1) initial densification dominated by Al2O3 sintering, during which preferential Al2O3 grain growth delays AlON formation; (2) formation of a nitrogen-rich AlON solid solution, accompanied by lattice and volumetric expansion; (3) dissolution of residual Al2O3 into the AlON lattice, together with lattice contraction and volumetric shrinkage; (4) final densification of phase-pure AlON. This mechanism is consistently verified across a broad composition range of 22 – 40 mol% AlN, offering critical insights for process optimization. Furthermore, blackening of the sintered sample is identified as an inevitable intermediate stage during the densification of AlON ceramics, which is unrelated to phase impurities or carbon contamination.

Keywords

Aluminum oxynitride (AlON), reactive sintering behavior, blackening

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