Abstract

According to the present invention, there is provided an aluminum nitride sintered body having a high thermal conductivity and essentially consisting of a AlN single-phase, containing 0.01 to 8,000 ppm of rare earth elements and less than 2,000 ppm of oxygen. According to the present invention, there is provided a method of fabricating an aluminum nitride sintered body having a high thermal conductivity and essentially consisting of AlN single-phase, containing 0.01 to 8,000 ppm of rare earth elements and less than 2,000 ppm of oxygen, wherein a molded body prepared by mixing and molding an aluminum nitride power having less than 7 wt % of oxygen and an average particle size of 0.05 to 5 μm and with rare earth compounds of 0.01 to 15 wt % of based on rare earth elements content, or a sintered AlN body containing oxide grain boundary phases of 0.01 to 15 wt % of rare earth elements and 0.01 to 20 wt % of oxygen and (rare earth element)--Al--O compounds phases and/or (rare earth element)--O compounds phases, is fired in a reducing atmosphere at a temperature of 1,550 to 2,050° C. for 4 hours or more.

Other References

• Iwase et al, "Developement of High Thermal Conductive AlN Ceramic Substrate Terminology", IMC Procedings, Tokyo, May 21-23, 1984 pp. 180-185
• Slack, "Nonmetallic Crystals with High Thermal Conductivity", J. Phys. & Chem. Solids, 34, pp. 321-335, 1973