ALUMINUM OXYNITRIDE HAVING IMPROVED OPTICAL CHARACTERISTIC AND ITS MANUFACTURE

摘要

A method of preparing substantially homogeneous aluminum oxynitride powder is provided comprising the steps (a) reacting aluminum oxide with carbon black in the presence of nitrogen, (b) heating to produce a reacted powder and (c) breaking down the resulting powder into particles in a predetermined size range. A method of preparing a durable optically transparent body from this powder is provided in which the presence of predetermined additives enhance the sintering process. Preferred dopant additives are boron, in elemental or compound form, and at least one additional element selected from the group of yttrium and lanthanum or compounds thereof.