University of Utah Research Foundation

Patrick D Miller

Ivan B Cutler

A solid solution and a process for producing a solid solution, the solid solution including at least the compounds: silicon carbide and aluminum oxycarbide, and also aluminum nitride. The new material including all three compounds is referred to by the acronym, SiCAlON, which is a coined term consisting of the chemical abbreviations for the elements present in the solid solution. The solid solution is obtained by heating an intimate mixture of reactants above about 1550.degree. C. The silicon carbide in the solid solution has the alpha or hexagonal structure and the aluminum nitride has the wurtzite or hexagonal structure. The solid solution is characterized by the substantial absence of iron or other impurities that tend to encourage the formation of silicon carbide as a separate phase having a beta or cubic structure.

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Patrick D Miller