Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing fine powders of aluminum nitride, by starting from an aqueous solution of an inorganic aluminum salt, characterized in that said process comprises the following steps:(a) the anion of the inorganic salt of aluminum is at least partially removed by heating, with a colloidal solution of an aluminum compound being obtained;(b) carbon powder is dispersed in said colloidal solution, with a suspension of an aluminum compound and carbon being obtained;(c) said suspension is mixed with a carbohydrate, with a suspension being obtained of an aluminum compound and carbon in a solution which contains the carbohydrate;(d) the suspension obtained from the (c) step is sprayed onto, or dropwise added to, an alkaline solution, with spherical bodies being obtained, which contain aluminum hydroxide and carbon;(e) said spherical bodies are carbothermally reduced and nitrided at a temperature comprised within the range of from 1350.degree. to 1650.degree. C.