The reaction between Al(OH)(3) and carbon black powders under flowing nitrogen atmosphere was investigated by a dynamic thermogravimetric method. In the temperature range 1300-1700 degrees C, the reaction can be divided into two steps: the first includes the direct reaction between Al2O3 and C particles and partial gas-solid reaction at relatively low temperature. The second is the gas-solid reaction between CO-N-2 and Al2O3 when the gaseous phase transfers through the cracks in the product layer of AlN to the surface of the un-reacted core of Al2O3. The apparent activation energy of the two reactions are 486 and 592 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The reaction rates of the two reactions can be expressed as: d alpha/dt = 8.20 x 10(10) x exp(-486 x 10(3)/RT) x 3 x (1 -alpha)(2/3) s(-1) (for the first stage) d alpha/dt = 2.09 x 10(13) x exp(-592 x 10(3/)RT) x (1 - alpha)(2) s-1 (for the second stage)