Preparation of high performance AlN/Hydantion composite by gelcasting and infiltration processes

A new processing technique was proposed for preparing aluminum nitride (AlN)/Hydantion interpenetrating network composites. The technique comprised gelcasting AlN green bodies, degreasing, and infiltrating Hydantion epoxy resin and hardener into the AlN skeleton under a vacuum condition. The effects of AlN contents on the viscosities of AlN slurries and the flexural strength, thermal conductivity, dielectric constant of the AlN/Hydantion composites were evaluated. The highest thermal conductivity and flexural strength of the AlN/Hydantion composites reached 3.56 W/mK and 101.3 MPa, respectively. The fracture surface of the composite revealed that an interpenetrating polymer network in the AlN ceramic skeleton was formed. The AlN/Hydantion composite exhibited the dielectric constant of 7.3 at 1 MHz.