Seo, Yewon Ahn, Byeongho Jeong, Hyeondeok Nahm, Sahn Ryu, Sung-Soo 2025-07-18T09:00:56Z 2025-07-18T09:00:56Z 2025-07-18 2025-07 0272-8842 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/152819 This study investigates the effects of aluminum nitride (AlN) whisker alignment on the thermal and mechanical properties of AlN ceramics fabricated through tape casting. By systematically comparing unidirectional (UNI) and bidirectional (BI) whisker arrangements, we examine how alignment configurations influence microstructural development and resulting properties. Bidirectionally aligned specimens achieved the highest thermal conductivity (200 W m-1 K-1, 30% increase) through three-dimensional networks of AlN whiskers. In contrast, unidirectionally aligned specimens exhibited superior mechanical performance with a 35% increase in fracture toughness (4.9 MPam0.5) through multiple toughening mechanisms enabled by bundles of closely-spaced whiskers. The enhanced properties stem from controlled anisotropic shrinkage during sintering, which creates optimized whisker spacing and orientation. Detailed microstructural analysis reveals distinct toughening mechanisms including crack deflection, branching, and grain bridging in UNI specimens, while BI specimens benefit from interconnected thermal pathways. This study demonstrates that controlled whisker alignment offers an effective approach to tailoring the thermal and mechanical properties of AlN substrates. English Elsevier Enhanced thermal and mechanical properties of aluminum nitride ceramics through controlled whisker alignment: A comparative study of unidirectional and bidirectional configurations Article 10.1016/j.ceramint.2025.02.397 1 Ceramics International, v.51, no.16, pp.22368 - 22376 Ceramics International 51 16 22368 22376 N scie scopus 001511365400020 Materials Science, Ceramics Materials Science Article FRACTURE-TOUGHNESS ANISOTROPIC SHRINKAGE CONDUCTIVITY COMPOSITES TEMPERATURE BEHAVIOR Thermal conductivity Fracture toughness Anisotropy Aluminum nitride Whisker