Patent ID: 7799269
Filing Date: 2010-09-21
Classification: C04B

Abstract:
1. A method of sintering an aluminum nitride article, comprising the steps of: (a) placing the aluminum nitride article in a sintering atmosphere, the sintering atmosphere comprising nitrogen gas containing from about 0.05% to about 1% methane by volume; (b) subjecting the aluminum nitride article to an increasing temperature; (c) holding the aluminum nitride article at a sintering temperature for a first dwell period; (d) changing the sintering atmosphere to nitrogen gas that does not contain methane; (e) continue holding the aluminum nitride article at the sintering temperature for a second dwell period to form a sintered aluminum nitride article, wherein the second dwell period is from about 25% to about 95% of the sum of the first and second dwell periods; and (f) cooling the sintered aluminum nitride article.