Boron Nitride BN

Boron nitride is an advanced synthetic ceramic material available as a powder, solid, liquid or aerosol.

It has exceptional temperature resistance, dielectric strength and thermal conductivity. Thanks to these various properties, boron nitride is an easily machinable material.

To obtain sintered boron nitride, the boron nitride powder is pressed at a very high temperature.

The 2 methods used are :

• uniaxial hot pressing (HP)
• hot isostatic pressing (HIP).

Boron nitride can be compared to graphite thanks to these lubrication capacities and its good thermal conduction, although it is white in colour and has very good electrical insulation capabilities. In its solid form, boron nitride can easily be machined in virtually any form. Boron nitride is resistant to temperatures above 2000°C in inert and reducing atmospheres.

Plus, it isn't wetted by most molten metals and slags and can therefore be used as a container for most molten metals, including aluminium, sodium, iron, steel, silicon, boron and copper.

Notable properties

• High thermal conductivity
• Low thermal expansion
• Excellent dielectric resistance
• Chemical inertia
• Microwave transparency
• Easily machinable

Applications

• Protection and sheathing for thermocouples and measuring probes
• Protection for casting tools
• Electrical insulation at very high temperatures
• Smelting and sintering crucibles
• Resistance support
• Solar and photovoltaic industry
• Furnace structures: tubes and insulation sleeves
• Soldering and brazing: nozzles, brazing supports
• PVD installations: masking supports, coating supports