Transparent aluminum oxynitride and method of manufacture

A method of manufacturing a substantially transparent aluminum oxynitride body comprising the steps of:

• forming a homogeneous single phase aluminum oxynitride powder;
• pressing said powder into a green body of predetermined shape;
• and
• sintering in a nitrogen atmosphere said body in the presence of dopants.

The method of manufacturing a substantially transparent aluminum oxynitride body comprising the steps of:

• forming a substantially homogeneous single phase aluminum oxynitride powder having an average particle size not greater than 1.0 microns;
• forming a green body of predetermined shape from said single phase powder;
• and
• sintering said body in the presence of yttrium and boron dopants and in a nitrogen atmosphere at a temperature and for a length of time sufficient to achieve substantial densification of said aluminum oxynitride body while in its solid single phase.