Microwave-assisted combustion synthesis of AlN–SiC composites using a solid source of nitrogen

In this paper, the synthesis of Aluminum Nitride–Silicon Carbide composites through a combustion reaction among aluminum, silicon nitride (as the solid source of nitrogen) and carbon powders was investigated by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The combustion reaction was initiated through the ignition of the powder mixture by microwave heating in a domestic oven, thereby led to the synthesis of the desired ceramic. To achieve a higher-quality product, some parameters were altered during the synthesis. These included the mixing time, the amount of carbon in the reactant mixture and the weight of the reactant compacts. The product was not affected dramatically by the alteration in the first two parameters; however, the increase in the weight of the samples made it possible to achieve a more complete combustion and a higher degree of conversion to the products. It can be concluded that the procedure used in this work successfully leads to the synthesis of the product with no need to apply an electric field or utilize a nitrogen atmosphere.