The course of the hydrolysis and the reaction kinetics of AlN powder in diluted aqueous suspensions

The reactivity of AlN powder in diluted aqueous suspensions in the temperature range 22–90 °C was investigated in order to better understand and control the process of hydrolysis. The hydrolysis exhibits three interdependent stages: during the induction period (first stage) amorphous aluminum hydroxide gel is formed, followed by the crystallization of boehmite (second stage) and bayerite (third stage). The hydrolysis rate significantly increased with higher starting temperatures of the suspension, but was independent of the starting pH value; however, the pH value of 10 caused the disappearance of the induction period. The kinetics was described using un-reacted-core model, and the chemical reaction at the product-layer/un-reacted-core interface was the rate-controlling step for the second stage of the hydrolysis in the temperature range 22–70 °C, for which the calculated activation energy is 101 kJ/mol; whereas at 90 °C, the diffusion through the product layer became the rate-controlling step.