Aluminium nitride AlN

spore: profile
id: aluminium-nitride
spore_version: 0.2
family: carbide-nitride-boride-ceramics
name: Aluminium nitride
abbreviation: AlN
role: electrically insulating heat-spreading ceramic
category: ceramics
type: nitrides
summary: 'Aluminium nitride (AlN) is a technical ceramic that conducts heat well while staying electrically insulating, which is why it is used as a substrate and heat spreader in electronics. Its values depend strongly on grade: this profile keeps the Accuratus typical data and three CoorsTek grades (AlN 180, AlN-HP and AlN-HTC) separate. The sources describe high thermal conductivity, a thermal expansion close to that of silicon, and slow reaction with water, with surface oxidation in air above 700 °C.'
best_for: Electronic substrates, packages and heat spreaders where heat must leave a part without conducting electricity.
weakest_at: 'Water and humid storage: it hydrolyzes slowly, and the sources print no moisture limit. Thermal values also differ by grade.'
identity:
  formula: AlN (aluminium nitride)
  cas: 24304-00-5
  source: pubchem-aln
  where: Molecular Formula and CAS sections, CID 90455
  designations:
    - system: CAS
      code: 24304-00-5
      source: pubchem-aln
      where: Names and Identifiers > Other Identifiers > CAS
    - system: Name
      code: Aluminium nitride
      source: pubchem-aln
      where: Names and Identifiers > Record Description
    - system: Name
      code: Aluminum nitride
      source: accuratus-aln
      where: Page title and Materials list
    - system: Name
      code: AlN
      source: pubchem-aln
      where: Names and Identifiers > Molecular Formula
    - system: Trade name
      code: AlN 180
      note: CoorsTek grade name; its values are kept separate
      source: coorstek-aln
      where: Properties table, grade column header
    - system: Trade name
      code: AlN-HP
      note: CoorsTek grade name; its values are kept separate
      source: coorstek-aln
      where: Properties table, grade column header
    - system: Trade name
      code: AlN-HTC
      note: CoorsTek grade name; its values are kept separate
      source: coorstek-aln
      where: Properties table, grade column header
tags:
  environments: []
  stresses:
    - extreme-heat
    - thermal-cycling
  applications:
    - thermal-control
    - electronics-and-chips
properties:
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, typical commercial AlN (Accuratus)
    value: 3.26
    unit: gm/cc
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: typical commercial AlN, unnamed (Accuratus table)
      route: dense technical grade; the page says sintering aids and hot pressing are required
      temperature: room temperature (page note)
    method: Accuratus typical value; page note says room-temperature values except as noted
    status: ground
    source: accuratus-aln-pdf
    where: Aluminum Nitride Engineering Properties table, Mechanical, Density row
  - benchmark: flexural_strength
    label: Flexural strength, typical commercial AlN (Accuratus)
    value: 320
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: typical commercial AlN, unnamed (Accuratus table)
      route: dense technical grade; the page says sintering aids and hot pressing are required
      temperature: room temperature (page note)
    method: Accuratus typical value; test method not stated
    status: ground
    source: accuratus-aln-pdf
    where: Aluminum Nitride Engineering Properties table, Mechanical, Flexural Strength row
  - benchmark: elastic_modulus
    label: Elastic modulus, typical commercial AlN (Accuratus)
    value: 330
    unit: GPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: typical commercial AlN, unnamed (Accuratus table)
      route: dense technical grade; the page says sintering aids and hot pressing are required
      temperature: room temperature (page note)
    method: Accuratus typical value; test method not stated
    status: ground
    source: accuratus-aln-pdf
    where: Aluminum Nitride Engineering Properties table, Mechanical, Elastic Modulus row
  - benchmark: poissons_ratio
    label: Poisson ratio, typical commercial AlN (Accuratus)
    value: 0.24
    unit: '-'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: typical commercial AlN, unnamed (Accuratus table)
      temperature: room temperature (page note)
    method: Accuratus typical value
    status: ground
    source: accuratus-aln-pdf
    where: Aluminum Nitride Engineering Properties table, Mechanical, Poisson's Ratio row
  - benchmark: compressive_strength
    label: Compressive strength, typical commercial AlN (Accuratus)
    value: 2100
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: typical commercial AlN, unnamed (Accuratus table)
      temperature: room temperature (page note)
    method: Accuratus typical value; test method not stated; name not in property-canon.yaml
    status: ground
    source: accuratus-aln-pdf
    where: Aluminum Nitride Engineering Properties table, Mechanical, Compressive Strength row
  - benchmark: hardness
    label: Hardness, typical commercial AlN (Accuratus)
    value: 1100
    unit: Kg/mm2
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: typical commercial AlN, unnamed (Accuratus table)
      temperature: room temperature (page note)
    method: Accuratus typical value; hardness test type not stated; name not in property-canon.yaml
    status: ground
    source: accuratus-aln-pdf
    where: Aluminum Nitride Engineering Properties table, Mechanical, Hardness row
  - benchmark: fracture_toughness
    label: Fracture toughness K_IC, typical commercial AlN (Accuratus)
    value: 2.6
    unit: MPa•m1/2
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: typical commercial AlN, unnamed (Accuratus table)
      temperature: room temperature (page note)
    method: Accuratus typical value; test method not stated; name not in property-canon.yaml
    status: ground
    source: accuratus-aln-pdf
    where: Aluminum Nitride Engineering Properties table, Mechanical, Fracture Toughness KIC row
  - benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    label: Thermal conductivity, typical commercial AlN (Accuratus)
    value: 140
    value_high: 180
    bound: range
    unit: W/m•°K
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: typical commercial AlN, unnamed (Accuratus table)
      route: dense technical grade; the page says sintering aids and hot pressing are required
      temperature: room temperature (page note)
    method: Accuratus typical range; test method not stated
    status: ground
    source: accuratus-aln-pdf
    where: Aluminum Nitride Engineering Properties table, Thermal, Thermal Conductivity row
  - benchmark: cte
    label: Coefficient of thermal expansion, typical commercial AlN (Accuratus)
    value: 4.5
    unit: 10-6/°C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: typical commercial AlN, unnamed (Accuratus table)
      temperature: not stated (page note says room-temperature values except as noted)
    method: Accuratus typical value, unit as printed
    status: ground
    note: The page says the low expansion is close to that of silicon; no silicon value is entered here.
    source: accuratus-aln-pdf
    where: Aluminum Nitride Engineering Properties table, Thermal, Coefficient of Thermal Expansion row
  - benchmark: specific_heat
    label: Specific heat, typical commercial AlN (Accuratus)
    value: 740
    unit: J/Kg•°K
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: typical commercial AlN, unnamed (Accuratus table)
      temperature: room temperature (page note)
    method: Accuratus typical value; unit as printed
    status: ground
    source: accuratus-aln-pdf
    where: Aluminum Nitride Engineering Properties table, Thermal, Specific Heat row
  - benchmark: dielectric_strength
    label: Dielectric strength, typical commercial AlN (Accuratus)
    value: 17
    unit: ac-kv/mm
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: typical commercial AlN, unnamed (Accuratus table)
      test: ac; test thickness not stated
      temperature: room temperature (page note)
    method: Accuratus typical value; unit as printed
    status: ground
    source: accuratus-aln-pdf
    where: Aluminum Nitride Engineering Properties table, Electrical, Dielectric Strength row
  - benchmark: dielectric_constant
    label: Dielectric constant at 1 MHz, typical commercial AlN (Accuratus)
    value: 9
    unit: '-'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: typical commercial AlN, unnamed (Accuratus table)
      frequency: 1 MHz
      temperature: room temperature (page note)
    method: Accuratus typical value
    status: ground
    source: accuratus-aln-pdf
    where: Aluminum Nitride Engineering Properties table, Electrical, Dielectric Constant row
  - benchmark: dissipation_factor
    label: Dissipation factor (loss tangent) at 1 MHz, typical commercial AlN (Accuratus)
    value: 0.0003
    unit: '-'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: typical commercial AlN, unnamed (Accuratus table)
      frequency: 1 MHz
      temperature: room temperature (page note)
    method: Accuratus typical value
    status: ground
    source: accuratus-aln-pdf
    where: Aluminum Nitride Engineering Properties table, Electrical, Dissipation Factor row
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, CoorsTek AlN 180
    value: 3.3
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN 180 (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature: not stated in the table
    method: CoorsTek grade table value; no test method or temperature printed
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Density row, AlN 180 column
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, CoorsTek AlN-HP
    value: 3.25
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN-HP (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature: not stated in the table
    method: CoorsTek grade table value; no test method or temperature printed
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Density row, AlN-HP column
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, CoorsTek AlN-HTC
    value: 3.3
    unit: g/cm3
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN-HTC (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature: not stated in the table
    method: CoorsTek grade table value; no test method or temperature printed
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Density row, AlN-HTC column
  - benchmark: flexural_strength
    label: Flexural strength (4-point MOR), CoorsTek AlN 180
    value: 300
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN 180 (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature: 20 °C
    method: 4-point flexural strength (MOR), as labelled in the CoorsTek table
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, 4-PT Flexural Strength (MOR) row, AlN 180 column
  - benchmark: flexural_strength
    label: Flexural strength (4-point MOR), CoorsTek AlN-HP
    value: 365
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN-HP (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature: 20 °C
    method: 4-point flexural strength (MOR), as labelled in the CoorsTek table
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, 4-PT Flexural Strength (MOR) row, AlN-HP column
  - benchmark: flexural_strength
    label: Flexural strength (4-point MOR), CoorsTek AlN-HTC
    value: 375
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN-HTC (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature: 20 °C
    method: 4-point flexural strength (MOR), as labelled in the CoorsTek table
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, 4-PT Flexural Strength (MOR) row, AlN-HTC column
  - benchmark: elastic_modulus
    label: Young's modulus, CoorsTek AlN 180
    value: 310
    unit: GPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN 180 (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature: 20 °C
    method: Young's modulus as labelled in the CoorsTek table; test method not stated
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Young's Modulus (20 °C) row, AlN 180 column
  - benchmark: elastic_modulus
    label: Young's modulus, CoorsTek AlN-HP
    value: 276
    unit: GPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN-HP (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature: 20 °C
    method: Young's modulus as labelled in the CoorsTek table; test method not stated
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Young's Modulus (20 °C) row, AlN-HP column
  - benchmark: elastic_modulus
    label: Young's modulus, CoorsTek AlN-HTC
    value: 330
    unit: GPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN-HTC (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature: 20 °C
    method: Young's modulus as labelled in the CoorsTek table; test method not stated
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Young's Modulus (20 °C) row, AlN-HTC column
  - benchmark: compressive_strength
    label: Compressive strength, CoorsTek AlN 180
    value: 2000
    unit: MPa
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN 180 (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature: 20 °C
    method: Compressive strength as labelled in the CoorsTek table; test method not stated; the other two grades show no value
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Compressive Strength (20 °C) row, AlN 180 column
  - benchmark: fracture_toughness
    label: Fracture toughness K_IC, CoorsTek AlN 180
    value: 3.03
    unit: MPa m 1/2
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN 180 (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature: not stated in the table
    method: K_IC as labelled in the CoorsTek table; test method not stated
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Fracture Toughness (K_IC) row, AlN 180 column
  - benchmark: fracture_toughness
    label: Fracture toughness K_IC, CoorsTek AlN-HP
    value: 3.25
    unit: MPa m 1/2
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN-HP (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature: not stated in the table
    method: K_IC as labelled in the CoorsTek table; test method not stated
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Fracture Toughness (K_IC) row, AlN-HP column
  - benchmark: cte
    label: Coefficient of thermal expansion, CoorsTek AlN 180
    value: 5.6
    unit: 1x10-6/°C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN 180 (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature_range: 25 to 1000 °C
    method: Coefficient of thermal expansion as labelled in the CoorsTek table, unit as printed
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (25-1000 °C) row, AlN 180 column
  - benchmark: cte
    label: Coefficient of thermal expansion, CoorsTek AlN-HP
    value: 5.5
    unit: 1x10-6/°C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN-HP (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature_range: 25 to 1000 °C
    method: Coefficient of thermal expansion as labelled in the CoorsTek table, unit as printed
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (25-1000 °C) row, AlN-HP column
  - benchmark: cte
    label: Coefficient of thermal expansion, CoorsTek AlN-HTC
    value: 5.5
    unit: 1x10-6/°C
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN-HTC (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature_range: 25 to 1000 °C
    method: Coefficient of thermal expansion as labelled in the CoorsTek table, unit as printed
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (25-1000 °C) row, AlN-HTC column
  - benchmark: specific_heat
    label: Specific heat, CoorsTek AlN 180
    value: 738
    unit: J/kg*K
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN 180 (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature: 100 °C
    method: Specific heat as labelled in the CoorsTek table, unit as printed
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Specific Heat (100 °C) row, AlN 180 column
  - benchmark: specific_heat
    label: Specific heat, CoorsTek AlN-HP
    value: 705
    unit: J/kg*K
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN-HP (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature: 100 °C
    method: Specific heat as labelled in the CoorsTek table, unit as printed
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Specific Heat (100 °C) row, AlN-HP column
  - benchmark: specific_heat
    label: Specific heat, CoorsTek AlN-HTC
    value: 705
    unit: J/kg*K
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN-HTC (CoorsTek table column)
      temperature: 100 °C
    method: Specific heat as labelled in the CoorsTek table, unit as printed
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Specific Heat (100 °C) row, AlN-HTC column
  - benchmark: dielectric_strength
    label: Dielectric strength, CoorsTek AlN 180
    value: 20
    unit: ac-kV/mm
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN 180 (CoorsTek table column)
      test: ac; 6.35 mm thickness as labelled
      temperature: not stated in the table
    method: Dielectric strength as labelled in the CoorsTek table, unit as printed
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Dielectric Strength (6.35mm) row, AlN 180 column
  - benchmark: dielectric_strength
    label: Dielectric strength, CoorsTek AlN-HP
    value: 16
    unit: ac-kV/mm
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN-HP (CoorsTek table column)
      test: ac; 6.35 mm thickness as labelled
      temperature: not stated in the table
    method: Dielectric strength as labelled in the CoorsTek table, unit as printed
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Dielectric Strength (6.35mm) row, AlN-HP column
  - benchmark: dielectric_constant
    label: Dielectric constant at 1 MHz, CoorsTek AlN 180
    value: 8.6
    unit: '-'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN 180 (CoorsTek table column)
      frequency: 1 MHz
      temperature: 25 °C
    method: Dielectric constant as labelled in the CoorsTek table
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Dielectric Constant (1 MHz) row, AlN 180 column
  - benchmark: dielectric_constant
    label: Dielectric constant at 1 MHz, CoorsTek AlN-HP
    value: 8.5
    unit: '-'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN-HP (CoorsTek table column)
      frequency: 1 MHz
      temperature: 25 °C
    method: Dielectric constant as labelled in the CoorsTek table
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Dielectric Constant (1 MHz) row, AlN-HP column
  - benchmark: dielectric_constant
    label: Dielectric constant at 1 MHz, CoorsTek AlN-HTC
    value: 9.05
    unit: '-'
    scope: material
    conditions:
      grade: AlN-HTC (CoorsTek table column)
      frequency: 1 MHz
      temperature: 25 °C
    method: Dielectric constant as labelled in the CoorsTek table
    status: ground
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Properties table, Dielectric Constant (1 MHz) row, AlN-HTC column
corrosion:
  - environment: Air above 700 °C
    headline: Surface oxidation starts; an oxide layer protects to 1370 °C
    effect: Accuratus says surface oxidation begins above 700 °C, a layer of aluminum oxide forms and protects the material up to 1370 °C, and bulk oxidation occurs above that temperature.
    rating: unknown
    conditions:
      atmosphere: air
      temperature: 700 °C onset; 1370 °C protection limit
    source: accuratus-aln
    where: General Aluminum Nitride Information paragraph
  - environment: Hydrogen and carbon dioxide
    headline: Stable up to 980 °C
    effect: Accuratus says the material is stable in hydrogen and carbon dioxide atmospheres up to 980 °C.
    rating: unknown
    conditions:
      atmosphere: hydrogen or carbon dioxide
      temperature: up to 980 °C
    source: accuratus-aln
    where: General Aluminum Nitride Information paragraph
  - environment: Water
    headline: Slow hydrolysis; no moisture limit printed
    effect: Accuratus says the material hydrolyzes slowly in water. Neither the Accuratus page nor the PubChem record prints a numeric limit or rate.
    rating: unknown
    conditions:
      medium: water
    source: accuratus-aln
    where: General Aluminum Nitride Information paragraph
  - environment: Water (decomposition)
    headline: Decomposes to ammonia and aluminum hydroxide
    effect: The PubChem hazards summary says AlN is decomposed by water forming ammonia and aluminum hydroxide, citing a Materion MSDS.
    rating: unknown
    conditions:
      medium: water
    source: pubchem-aln
    where: Safety and Hazards > Hazards Identification > Hazards Summary
  - environment: Mineral acids
    headline: Slow dissolution through grain-boundary attack
    effect: Accuratus says the material dissolves slowly in mineral acids through grain-boundary attack.
    rating: unknown
    source: accuratus-aln
    where: General Aluminum Nitride Information paragraph
  - environment: Strong alkalis
    headline: Attack on the AlN grains
    effect: Accuratus says strong alkalis attack the aluminum nitride grains.
    rating: unknown
    source: accuratus-aln
    where: General Aluminum Nitride Information paragraph
  - environment: Semiconductor process chemicals and gases
    headline: Non-reactive with normal process chemicals
    effect: Accuratus says the material is non-reactive with normal semiconductor process chemicals and gases.
    rating: unknown
    source: accuratus-aln
    where: Key Aluminum Nitride Properties list
risks:
  hazards:
    - text: 'PubChem aggregates ECHA notifications from 328 reports: H315 skin irritation (88.7%), H319 serious eye irritation (70.4%), H335 may cause respiratory irritation (70.7%), H373 may cause organ damage through prolonged or repeated exposure (22%) and H410 very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects (22.9%). Signal word: Warning. PubChem notes that 5 of 328 reports do not meet GHS criteria.'
      ghs:
        - H315
        - H319
        - H335
        - H373
        - H410
      source: pubchem-aln
      where: Safety and Hazards > Hazards Identification > GHS Classification
    - text: 'PubChem hazards summary, citing a Materion MSDS: decomposed by water forming ammonia and aluminum hydroxide; may cause irritation and possibly burns; inhalation may cause corrosive injuries to the upper respiratory tract and lungs.'
      ghs: []
      source: pubchem-aln
      where: Safety and Hazards > Hazards Identification > Hazards Summary
  failure_risks:
    - mode: Hydrolysis on exposure to water
      trigger: Contact with water or moisture
      consequence: Breakdown to ammonia and aluminum hydroxide; no moisture limit or rate is printed on the pages read
      severity: moderate
      source: pubchem-aln
      where: Safety and Hazards > Hazards Identification > Hazards Summary; Accuratus says it hydrolyzes slowly in water
    - mode: Bulk oxidation at high temperature in air
      trigger: Air above 1370 °C
      consequence: Bulk oxidation occurs above the temperature at which the surface oxide layer protects the material, according to Accuratus
      severity: moderate
      source: accuratus-aln
      where: General Aluminum Nitride Information paragraph
  side_effects: []
  handling:
    - text: Water decomposes AlN to ammonia and aluminum hydroxide (PubChem hazards summary), so keep the material away from water.
      source: pubchem-aln
      where: Safety and Hazards > Hazards Identification > Hazards Summary
    - text: 'Moisture: Accuratus says the material hydrolyzes slowly in water and prints no moisture limit.'
      source: accuratus-aln
      where: General Aluminum Nitride Information paragraph
    - text: 'Dust: the PubChem hazards summary warns that inhalation may cause corrosive injury; the pages read give no dust-control rule for AlN powder.'
      source: pubchem-aln
      where: Safety and Hazards > Hazards Identification > Hazards Summary
  mitigations: []
uses:
  - application: electronics-and-chips
    device: Substrates for electronic packages, IC packages and power transistor bases
    example: Accuratus lists substrates for electronic packages, IC packages and power transistor bases among typical uses.
    source: accuratus-aln
    where: Typical Aluminum Nitride Uses list
  - application: thermal-control
    device: Heat sinks
    example: Accuratus lists heat sinks among typical uses and says most current applications are in electronics where heat removal is important.
    source: accuratus-aln
    where: Typical Aluminum Nitride Uses list; General Aluminum Nitride Information
  - application: electronics-and-chips
    device: Semiconductor heater plates and chucks
    example: CoorsTek lists heater plates and chucks among its sample applications for aluminum nitride, under semiconductor.
    source: coorstek-aln
    where: Sample Applications by Industry list, Semiconductor
supply:
  - subject: Aluminium metal (primary smelter output; USGS does not report AlN output)
    abundance: USGS says world bauxite resources are estimated at 55 to 75 billion tons and are sufficient to meet world demand for aluminum metal well into the future.
    producers:
      - country: China
        share_percent: 60.8
        year: 2025
      - country: India
        share_percent: 5.7
        year: 2025
      - country: Russia
        share_percent: 5.3
        year: 2025
      - country: Canada
        share_percent: 4.5
        year: 2025
      - country: United Arab Emirates
        share_percent: 3.6
        year: 2025
    critical_lists: []
    recycling: 'USGS: about 3.6 million tons of aluminum were recovered from purchased scrap in the US in 2025 (metal, not AlN).'
    substitutes: []
    source: usgs-mcs2026-aluminum
    where: 'World Smelter Production and Capacity table, 2025e column (thousand t). Shares computed against the printed world total of 74,000: China 45,000 = 60.8%, India 4,200 = 5.7%, Russia 3,900 = 5.3%, Canada 3,300 = 4.5%, UAE 2,700 = 3.6%.'
  - subject: Bauxite (aluminium ore, feedstock for alumina)
    abundance: USGS estimates world bauxite resources at 55 to 75 billion tons. Domestic resources are inadequate for long-term US demand.
    producers:
      - country: Guinea
        share_percent: 34.1
        year: 2025
      - country: Australia
        share_percent: 22
        year: 2025
      - country: China
        share_percent: 19.8
        year: 2025
      - country: Brazil
        share_percent: 7.5
        year: 2025
      - country: India
        share_percent: 5.7
        year: 2025
    critical_lists: []
    recycling: 'USGS reports no bauxite recycling (Recycling: None).'
    substitutes: []
    source: usgs-mcs2026-bauxite-alumina
    where: 'World Alumina Refinery and Bauxite Mine Production table, bauxite production 2025e column (thousand t). Shares computed against the printed world total of 440,000: Guinea 150,000 = 34.1%, Australia 97,000 = 22.0%, China 87,000 = 19.8%, Brazil 33,000 = 7.5%, India 25,000 = 5.7%.'
  - subject: Alumina (aluminium oxide)
    abundance: 'USGS: about 4 tons of dried bauxite are required to produce 2 tons of alumina.'
    producers:
      - country: China
        share_percent: 62
        year: 2025
      - country: Australia
        share_percent: 11.3
        year: 2025
      - country: Brazil
        share_percent: 7.3
        year: 2025
      - country: India
        share_percent: 5.5
        year: 2025
      - country: Russia
        share_percent: 1.9
        year: 2025
    critical_lists: []
    recycling: Not reported for alumina in the chapter read.
    substitutes: []
    source: usgs-mcs2026-bauxite-alumina
    where: 'World Alumina Refinery and Bauxite Mine Production table, alumina production 2025e column (thousand t). Shares computed against the printed world total of 150,000: China 93,000 = 62.0%, Australia 17,000 = 11.3%, Brazil 11,000 = 7.3%, India 8,200 = 5.5%, Russia 2,900 = 1.9%.'
documents:
  - title: Accuratus, Aluminum Nitride Material Properties (data sheet PDF)
    type: datasheet
    url: https://www.accuratus.com/pdf/AlNprops.pdf
  - title: Accuratus, Aluminum Nitride | AlN Material Properties (materials page)
    type: datasheet
    url: https://www.accuratus.com/alumni.html
  - title: CoorsTek, Aluminum Nitride material page and grade table
    type: datasheet
    url: https://www.coorstek.com/en/materials/aluminum-nitride/
  - title: PubChem PUG-View record, Aluminium nitride (CID 90455)
    type: database
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/90455/JSON
  - title: CIAAW Abridged Standard Atomic Weights 2024
    type: database
    url: https://www.ciaaw.org/abridged-atomic-weights.htm
    year: 2024
  - title: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Bauxite and Alumina
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-bauxite-alumina.pdf
    year: 2026
  - title: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Aluminum
    type: report
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-aluminum.pdf
    year: 2026
gaps:
  - Electrical (volume) resistivity is not entered. Accuratus prints >10^14 ohm·cm and CoorsTek prints >10^12 to >10^14 ohm·cm, with the exponent as a superscript that the source-text check cannot match as a plain number.
  - 'Moisture or hydrolysis limit: no number or rate is printed on any page read. Accuratus says only that the material hydrolyzes slowly in water, and PubChem says water decomposes it.'
  - 'Maximum use temperature: Accuratus leaves it blank and CoorsTek gives none. The oxidation temperatures in the corrosion section are page statements, not use limits.'
  - CoorsTek thermal conductivity (AlN 180, AlN-HP and AlN-HTC) is not entered, because the table unit cell prints only W/m and the unit is incomplete.
  - CoorsTek dielectric loss (tan delta) row is blank. The only dielectric loss value is Accuratus 0.0003 at 1 MHz.
  - 'Trade names: only the CoorsTek grade names (AlN 180, AlN-HP and AlN-HTC) were found in the pages read. Trade names from other suppliers, such as Tokuyama Shapal, are not covered.'
  - 'Synthesis route: carbothermal reduction-nitridation of alumina is not verified from a fetched page. The Wiley DOI for Ide et al. 1999 returned a bot-check page.'
  - Sintering aids (Y2O3 or CaO) are named in Wikipedia, but no amount is stated in any page read.
  - compressive_strength, hardness and fracture_toughness are not in spores/property-canon.yaml; short snake_case names are used for them.
  - Silicon thermal expansion is not entered. Accuratus says AlN is close to silicon, without a silicon value, so no numerical match is made.
  - 'Hazards come from the PubChem aggregate of ECHA notifications. No AlN-specific SDS was read: the American Elements SDS page returned HTTP 403 and an SDS URL guess returned 404.'
  - Failure-risk severity labels are the assistant judgement; no fetched source ranks severity.
  - Recycling is not reported for AlN. The USGS recycling figures are for aluminium metal and bauxite.
  - USGS reports bauxite, alumina and aluminium metal, not AlN output. No critical-minerals listing for aluminium is stated in the two chapters read.
  - PubChem toxicology text covers aluminium metal and its compounds in general, not AlN specifically, so it is not used as an AlN hazard.
sources:
  accuratus-aln:
    title: Accuratus, Aluminum Nitride | AlN Material Properties (materials page)
    url: https://www.accuratus.com/alumni.html
    kind: datasheet
    license: Manufacturer web page, cited
  accuratus-aln-pdf:
    title: Accuratus, Aluminum Nitride Material Properties (data sheet)
    id: AlNprops.pdf
    url: https://www.accuratus.com/pdf/AlNprops.pdf
    kind: datasheet
    license: Manufacturer data sheet, cited
  coorstek-aln:
    title: CoorsTek Technical Ceramics, Aluminum Nitride material page and grade table
    url: https://www.coorstek.com/en/materials/aluminum-nitride/
    kind: datasheet
    license: Manufacturer webpage, cited
  pubchem-aln:
    title: PubChem PUG-View record, Aluminium nitride (CID 90455)
    id: CID 90455; CAS 24304-00-5
    url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/90455/JSON
    kind: database
    license: Public domain (NCBI), cited
  ciaaw-atomic-weights:
    title: Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights, 2024 Abridged Standard Atomic Weights
    url: https://www.ciaaw.org/abridged-atomic-weights.htm
    year: 2024
    kind: database
    license: CIAAW reference table, cited
  usgs-mcs2026-bauxite-alumina:
    title: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Bauxite and Alumina
    id: USGS MCS 2026
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-bauxite-alumina.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: Public domain (USGS), cited
  usgs-mcs2026-aluminum:
    title: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Aluminum
    id: USGS MCS 2026
    url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-aluminum.pdf
    year: 2026
    kind: report
    license: Public domain (USGS), cited
  wiki-aln:
    title: Wikipedia, Aluminium nitride (used for composition and history only)
    url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium_nitride
    kind: web
    license: CC BY-SA 4.0, cited
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-24'
review:
  status: draft
  method: assistant
  checked_values: 36
  unreachable: 0
  caveats: 4
  note: Accuratus values are typical room-temperature data for an unnamed commercial grade. CoorsTek values are per grade. Its thermal conductivity unit is printed as W/m only, so that row is not entered. Volume resistivity is not entered because of the superscript exponent.
story:
  recipe:
    line: AlN is aluminium nitride with one aluminium and one nitrogen atom per formula unit. CIAAW 2024 standard atomic weights are 26.982 for aluminium and 14.007 for nitrogen. Accuratus says a dense technical grade needs sintering aids and hot pressing, and Wikipedia names Y2O3 or CaO as sintering aids without giving amounts. No fetched source in this profile verifies the synthesis reaction.
    parts:
      - name: Aluminium
        symbol: Al
        atoms: 1
        atomic_weight: 26.982
        role: Metal atom in each AlN formula unit
        source: ciaaw-atomic-weights
        where: 2024 Abridged Standard Atomic Weights, aluminium row (26.982)
      - name: Nitrogen
        symbol: 'N'
        atoms: 1
        atomic_weight: 14.007
        role: Nonmetal atom in each AlN formula unit
        source: ciaaw-atomic-weights
        where: 2024 Abridged Standard Atomic Weights, nitrogen row (14.007)
      - name: Sintering aid (Y2O3 or CaO)
        role: Densification additive named for dense technical-grade AlN
        share_note: amount not stated in any source read
        source: wiki-aln
        where: Synthesis section, sentence on sintering aids
  risk_groups:
    - title: For people
      lead: PubChem aggregates ECHA reports that most often list skin, eye and airway irritation.
      verdict: Irritant in most reports
      points:
        - label: Irritation
          line: H315, H319 and H335 appear in 70.4% to 88.7% of the reports PubChem aggregates.
        - label: Repeated exposure
          line: H373 appears in 22% of reports (organ damage from prolonged or repeated exposure).
    - title: If the part gets wet
      lead: Water breaks AlN down slowly to ammonia and aluminum hydroxide.
      verdict: Slow hydrolysis, no limit printed
      points:
        - label: Hydrolysis
          line: Accuratus says the material hydrolyzes slowly in water. PubChem says water decomposes it to ammonia and aluminum hydroxide.
    - title: Hot air
      lead: A surface oxide layer forms in air from 700 °C.
      verdict: Protects to 1370 °C in air
      points:
        - label: Oxidation
          line: Accuratus says surface oxidation begins above 700 °C, an aluminum oxide layer protects the material up to 1370 °C, and bulk oxidation occurs above that.
  why: Aluminium nitride combines high thermal conductivity with electrical insulation, so it can draw heat out of an electronic part without carrying current. Accuratus says a dense technical grade needs sintering aids and hot pressing, and that its thermal expansion is close to that of silicon. Wikipedia records that AlN was first synthesized in the nineteenth century. The grade changes the numbers a lot, so use the data sheet for the grade you buy.
  uses:
    - where: Electronic packages and substrates
      line: Accuratus lists substrates for electronic packages, IC packages and power transistor bases.
    - where: Heat sinks
      line: Accuratus lists heat sinks among typical uses.
    - where: Semiconductor process parts
      line: CoorsTek lists heater plates and chucks among its sample applications for aluminum nitride, under semiconductor.
  can_do:
    - label: Carry heat away
      benchmark: thermal_conductivity
      line: Accuratus gives 140 to 180 W/m•°K at room temperature for typical AlN, and says most current uses are in electronics where heat removal matters.
    - label: Insulate electrically
      benchmark: dielectric_strength
      line: Accuratus gives 17 kV/mm (ac). CoorsTek gives 16 to 20 kV/mm (ac, 6.35 mm) for its grades.
    - label: Match silicon expansion
      benchmark: cte
      line: Accuratus says its thermal expansion is close to that of silicon. CoorsTek gives 5.5 to 5.6 x 10-6 per °C from 25 to 1000 °C for its grades.
  compare: 'AlN values are comparable only within one source and grade. Accuratus gives one typical set at room temperature: thermal conductivity of 140 to 180 W/m•°K, flexural strength of 320 MPa, and a thermal expansion of 4.5 (10-6/°C) with no temperature printed. CoorsTek gives grade values at stated temperatures: flexural strength of 300 to 375 MPa at 20 °C, and thermal expansion of 5.5 to 5.6 (1x10-6/°C) from 25 to 1000 °C. The Accuratus and CoorsTek expansion figures should not be mixed. CoorsTek dielectric constants of 8.5 to 9.05 at 1 MHz bracket Accuratus''s value of 9. Accuratus calls AlN a non-toxic alternative to beryllia and says metallization lets it replace alumina and BeO in many electronic uses. No alumina or BeO values were read in this profile, so none are compared here.'
  compare_rows:
    - label: Thermal conductivity, typical AlN
      benchmark: thermal_conductivity
    - label: Flexural strength by grade
      benchmark: flexural_strength
    - label: Thermal expansion by grade
      benchmark: cte
  handling:
    - For powder, keep it away from water, which decomposes it to ammonia and aluminum hydroxide (PubChem).
    - Limit dust. PubChem's hazards summary warns that inhalation may cause corrosive injury to the upper airways and lungs.
    - 'Use the data sheet for the grade you buy: Accuratus values are typical, and CoorsTek values are per grade.'
  good_for:
    - Electronic substrates, packages and heat spreaders where heat must leave the part without an electrical short.
    - Semiconductor process parts such as heater plates and chucks, as CoorsTek lists them.
  watch_out:
    - Thermal conductivity for the CoorsTek grades is not in this profile, because the table unit is printed as W/m only.
    - 'Water exposure: AlN hydrolyzes slowly, and no numerical moisture limit is printed on any page read.'
    - Volume resistivity is not entered, because the source exponent is a superscript that the source-text check cannot match.
  verdict: Aluminium nitride suits electronic parts that must conduct heat and stay electrically insulating, as long as the grade is named and water exposure is controlled. The typical and grade values are well sourced, but the profile cannot yet give a verified resistivity or moisture limit.