Aluminum Nitride
also AlN
Aluminum Nitride (AlN) is a sintered nitride ceramic, normally densified with a Y₂O₃ aid, and stocked as sintered AlN-140, AlN-200 and hot-pressed (HP) grades.
Reference datasheet — Aluminum Nitride is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the Sintered condition
Aluminum Nitride tempers and conditions
Aluminum Nitride is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard. Sintered is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 4 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Economy grade, 120–150 W/m·K | Lower-cost grade with more sintering aid / grain-boundary oxide — use where insulation and moderate heat spreading suffice. | 180 | 0 | 1,050 HV | 140 W/m·K | |
SinteredDefault pressureless sintered AlN, ~170 W/m·K standard grade | Default commercial power-electronics substrate and heat-sink grade: best balance of thermal conductivity, strength and price. | 200 | 0 | 1,100 HV | 175 W/m·K | |
High thermal conductivity grade, 190–230 W/m·K | High-purity, oxygen-lean grade with long sinter/anneal cycle — pick for high-power IGBT, laser diode and RF heat spreaders. | 1,150 HV | 205 W/m·K | |||
Hot-pressed AlN, fine grain, high strength | Hot-pressed billets for thick heat sinks, crucibles and molten-metal parts where maximum density and bend strength matter more than substrate flatness. | 1,200 HV | 170 W/m·K |
What is Aluminum Nitride?
Aluminum Nitride (AlN) is a sintered nitride ceramic, normally densified with a Y₂O₃ aid, and stocked as sintered AlN-140, AlN-200 and hot-pressed (HP) grades. It combines 175 W/m·K thermal conductivity with full electrical insulation, a 320 GPa modulus and 3.29 g/cm³ density, so it is the default substrate and heat-spreader material for power modules, LED packages and RF electronics. It is brittle, limited to 1000 °C, hydrolyses slowly in humid air, and post-sinter shaping needs diamond tooling at 5–10× alumina tooling cost (machinability score 5). Alumina is the cheaper option when heat spreading is not critical. Aluminum Nitride has a density of 3.29 g/cm³ (0.119 lb/in³), lighter than 69% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,200°C (3,992 °F). Aluminum Nitride has a tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi), stronger than 60% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 320 GPa (46.4 Msi).
What is Aluminum Nitride used for?
- Power module substrates (DBC/AMB)
- Heat spreaders for IGBT and MOSFET packages
- LED packaging submounts
- Semiconductor wafer chucks and ceramic heaters
- RF and microwave package bases
- Laser diode submounts
- Insulating rings for plasma processing equipment
Advantages
- Conducts heat well — 175 W/m·K (101.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 95% of ceramic grades
Aluminum Nitride properties
Typical room-temperature values for Aluminum Nitride-Sintered; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical4
Aluminum Nitride has a density of 3.29 g/cm³ (0.119 lb/in³), lighter than 69% of ceramic grades. It melts at 2,200°C (3,992 °F).
Mechanical13
Aluminum Nitride has a tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi), stronger than 60% of ceramic grades. Elongation at break is 0% and the elastic modulus is 320 GPa (46.4 Msi).
Thermal5
Aluminum Nitride is rated for continuous service to 1,000°C (1,832 °F). It conducts heat at 175 W/m·K (101.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 95% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 4.5 µm/m·K (2.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
Aluminum Nitride is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 17 kV/mm (431.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is very good (82/100), better than 61% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Aluminum Nitride takes about 250 MJ of energy and emits 20 kg of CO₂ — more than 67% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
Aluminum Nitride's machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the ceramic family
Yield strength against density for every ceramic grade FabDigit runs. Aluminum Nitride is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Aluminum Nitride
Is Aluminum Nitride easy to machine?
Green/pre-sintered bodies can be milled or drilled; after sintering only diamond grinding, lapping, ultrasonic or laser cutting (CO2/UV) — expect 5–10× alumina tooling cost.
Can Aluminum Nitride be welded?
Not weldable; joined by active-metal-braze (Ti-containing AgCu) or DBC/DBA copper-aluminium direct bonding, or glass/solder sealing.
Can Aluminum Nitride be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped by tape casting (substrates), dry/isostatic pressing or injection moulding of AlN+Y2O3 powder, then de-bindered and sintered 1700–1900 °C in flowing N2 with ~15–20 % linear shrinkage.
Aluminum Nitride chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Y2O3sintering aid; CaO or CaF2 used in some grades | 1 – 5 | 3 |
| Olattice + grain-boundary oxygen; lower O = higher thermal conductivity | 0.5 – 2 | 1 |
| Cresidual from carbothermal reduction | ≤ 0.15 | 0.05 |
| AlNstoichiometric AlN = 65.8 % Al, 34.2 % N | ≥ 94 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Aluminum Nitride?
As-fired, lapped or polished (Ra <0.05 µm) surfaces; metallised by thick-film W/Mo-Mn co-fire, thin-film Ti/Pt/Au sputtering or DBC copper; store dry to avoid surface hydrolysis before metallisation.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Aluminum Nitride in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- AlN
- Also called
- Sintered Aluminum Nitride
How much does Aluminum Nitride cost?
Aluminum Nitride is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 98% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Aluminum Nitride — frequently asked
What is Aluminum Nitride used for?
Aluminum Nitride is typically used for power module substrates (DBC/AMB), heat spreaders for IGBT and MOSFET packages, LED packaging submounts, semiconductor wafer chucks and ceramic heaters, RF and microwave package bases and laser diode submounts. In short: thermally conductive insulator.
What is the tensile strength of Aluminum Nitride?
Aluminum Nitride has a typical tensile strength of 200 MPa (29 ksi) — stronger than 60% of ceramic grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is Aluminum Nitride easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades). Green/pre-sintered bodies can be milled or drilled; after sintering only diamond grinding, lapping, ultrasonic or laser cutting (CO2/UV) — expect 5–10× alumina tooling cost.
Can Aluminum Nitride be welded?
Not weldable; joined by active-metal-braze (Ti-containing AgCu) or DBC/DBA copper-aluminium direct bonding, or glass/solder sealing.
What surface finishes work on Aluminum Nitride?
As-fired, lapped or polished (Ra <0.05 µm) surfaces; metallised by thick-film W/Mo-Mn co-fire, thin-film Ti/Pt/Au sputtering or DBC copper; store dry to avoid surface hydrolysis before metallisation.
Can Aluminum Nitride be formed, bent or molded?
Shaped by tape casting (substrates), dry/isostatic pressing or injection moulding of AlN+Y2O3 powder, then de-bindered and sintered 1700–1900 °C in flowing N2 with ~15–20 % linear shrinkage.
What is the maximum service temperature of Aluminum Nitride?
Aluminum Nitride is rated for continuous use to about 1,000°C (1,832 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Aluminum Nitride cost?
Aluminum Nitride is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 98% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Engineered Materials Handbook, Vol. 4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- AlN Aluminum Nitride technical ceramic data — CoorsTek (2023)
- Fine Ceramics — Aluminum Nitride (AlN) substrate properties — Kyocera (2023)
- AlN substrate product specifications — Maruwa Co., Ltd. (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.