AlN and AlN-containing composites

#Conversion of (CH.sub.3).sub.3 Al and NH.sub.3 to aluminum nitride is known: Bahr, FIAT, Rev. Ger. Sci., Inorg. Chem. II, 155 to 179 (1948). The reaction is as follows:

#(CH.sub.3).sub.3 Al.NH.sub.3 .fwdarw.(CH.sub.3).sub.2 AlNH.sub.2 .fwdarw.CH.sub.3 AlNH.fwdarw.AlN.

#Laubengayer et al., J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 83, pages 542 to 546 (1961), disclose the reactions of amines at low temperatures with aluminum alkyls or alkyl aluminum chlorides to form 1:1 addition compounds. When such addition compounds having N-H and Al-R bonding are pyrolyzed, aluminum nitride is produced.

#The following Examples illustrate the invention. Procedures and reactions were conducted under an atmosphere of nitrogen or, where noted, ammonia or ammonia-nitrogen mixtures.

#With the exclusion of air and moisture triethylaluminum, 80 ml, in a 500 ml round-bottomed flask was stirred and treated with gaseous ammonia at 24.degree. C. to 65.degree. C. An excess of ammonia was supplied to insure that the reaction proceeded to completion. The reaction mixture consisted of (C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2 AlNH.sub.2 and ammonia. Excess ammonia was evaporated from the stirred mixture by warming it to 56.degree. C. under a vacuum of about 0.1 torr. The product was (C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2 AlNH.sub.2.

#A solution of the (C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.2 AlNH2 (2.5 g) and (C.sub.2 H.sub.5).sub.3 Al (0.35 g) was heated at 144.degree. C. to 164.degree. C. for 0.5 hours. The product, a polymeric reaction product of amidodiethylaluminum and triethylaluminum, was a viscous liquid at the synthesis temperature.