Effects of gravity on the microstructure of AlN/glass composites

AlN-borosilicate glass composites were fabricated on the parabolic flight plane by using a self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) chemical oven. The effects of different gravity levels on the material transition and the microstructure of composites were investigated. The results show that AlN crystal and glass segregated in elevated gravity; on the contrary, the composites with uniform distribution of multiphases can be obtained in microgravity, which proves the microgravity environment is good condition to prepare improved AlN/glass composites.