AlN Crystal Growth using Interfacial Property between Molten Iron and Solid Alumina

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25630338
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Metal making/Resorce production engineering
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: TOSHIHIRO Tanaka 大阪大学, 工学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (10179773)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SUZUKI Masanori 大阪大学, 大学院工学研究科, 助教 (20610728)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 界面自由エネルギー / 結晶成長

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Various　methods　of　alumina　nitride　(AlN)　crystal　growth　have　been　attempted　since　AlN　was　recognized as a ceramic material withremarkable properties, but no effcicient method has not yet established. However, AlN is da well-known inclusion in the steelmaking process, and AlN crystal growth occur in liquid iron alloy, but so far the role of the liquid iron has not been clarified. In this study, we propose a new mechanism for AlN growth in molten iron, in which AlN crystals nucleate and grow at the interface between liquid iron and a solid Al2O3 substrate to decrease the large interfacial free energy between them. To investigate the interfacial chemistry between the liquid metal and solid oxide, we successfully produced needle-like, micro-size AlN crystals at the interface of molten iron and solid alumina by blowing N2 gas through a liquid Fe-Al alloy.

Free Research Field

界面制御工学