AlN nano-scale powder was obtained through a new carbothermal reduction from combustion precursor at 1500degreesC for 2 It in graphite furnace. The resultant product was a white solid powder, characterized by XRD, TEM, SAD and FIIR spectra. The results indicated that the product consisted of wurtzite AlN with an average size of about 80nm. Through presureless and free-additive sintering at 1850degreesC for 6h, it showed that AlN nano-scale powders possess excellent sintering property, whose thermal conductivity was measured to be 120W/m K. High thermal conductivity mechanism was proposed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.