Synthesis of AlON powders through a polymerization template approach by spark plasma sintering

As a new wet chemical method, polymer template strategy uses monomer polymerization to form a continuous carbon network. The carbon skeleton can make the carbothermal reduction reaction take place in the original, thus preventing the excessive agglomeration of grains. The Al2O3 / C ceramic precursor were obtained by polymer template strategy, and then AlON powders with 3 mu m size were synthesized through a spark plasma sintering (SPS) method at 1,650 degrees C. We confirmed that a continuous network of carbon chains was formed by polymerization to encapsulate the alumina powder, so as to reduce the contact growth of the grains during the high-temperature carbothermal reaction. We established that, when the mass ratio of carbon source to alumina was 1.6:10, the pure AlON powder could be prepared by calcining at 1,650 degrees C for 20 min in a flowing nitrogen atmosphere.