Abstract: An investigation on the performances of AlN powders prepared by SHS is made in this paper. It is found that rapid grinding for 2 hours with carbinol as grind medium has better effect on the powders with d_0.5=1.204μm. Oxygen contents of AlN powders before and after grinding are 1.45 percent and 1.80 percent separately. Oxidation degree of the powders is less affected by rapid grinding and increases with elevation of heat treatment temperature. When treated at 1000℃ for 3 hours there are obvious α-Al₂O₃ appearing in the AlN powder and when treated at 600℃ for 3 hours, the oxygen content of AlN powder is moderate and the powder is quite resistant to hydrolysis.