Various Types of Boron Nitride Composites and Their Applications

Introduction

Boron nitride composites refer to materials that combine boron nitride with other substances with unique properties. They are a group of materials that usually possess exceptional properties such as high thermal conductivity, high electrical resistivity, low coefficient of thermal expansion, and high strength. These properties make them suitable for a variety of applications in electronics, aerospace, and energy. Here, this article is going to talk about the features and uses of ZSBN, BN-AlN, and BN-BO. Hope that you can have a further comprehension of boron nitride composites.

Properties of Boron Nitride Ceramics

Boron nitride composites, with boron nitride as one of their main component, typically exhibit many of the following outstanding properties and a range of applications associated with BN ceramics.

• Remarkable thermal performance: Boron nitride ceramics can bear high temperatures up to 1800°C. They can also withstand rapid heating and cooling thanks to their thermal shock resistance, making them perfect for high-temperature applications.
• Impressive chemical stability: Boron nitride can stand most harsh chemicals, such as acid, alkali, and salt. Most significantly, the ceramic does not react with molten metals, which makes it one of the most suitable refractory materials.
• Exceptional electrical insulation ability: Boron nitride ceramics are able to maintain electrical insulation ability at high-temperature conditions. Therefore, Boron nitride is a popular material for numerous high-temperature insulators.

Applications of Various Types of Boron Nitride Composites

There are several types of boron nitride composites, including ZSBN, BN-AlN, and BN-BO. Each type has its unique properties and applications.

ZSBN (BN-SZ):

ZSBN is composed of boron nitride with silicon carbide, and zirconia. The materials added largely improve the hardness and wear resistance of the ceramic.

These ceramics have great strength, high thermal shock resistance, impressive chemical stability, and high wear resistance, so they are widely used in electronic applications, such as substrates for high-power electronics and heat sinks for electronic devices. You can also find molten metal contacts and nozzles made from ZSBN ceramics. ZSBN nozzles come with less cost and high efficiency.

Figure 1. ZSBN Nozzles

Related reading: ZSBN Nozzles Used in Molten Metal Atomization

BN-AlN:

BN-AlN is a ceramic composite of boron nitride and aluminum nitride. It has high thermal conductivity, excellent thermal shock resistance, and good machinability.

BN-AlN is commonly employed in power electronics, such as substrates for high-power LEDs and electronic devices, due to its ability to dissipate heat efficiently. Additionally, it is applied to make semiconductor equipment, bearings, gears, and insulation parts thanks to its high thermal conductivity, high hardness, and other excellent mechanical properties.

Figure 2. BN-ALN Ceramic

BN-BO:

BN-BO contains boron nitride and boron oxide, with boron nitride comprising over 98% of its composition. It is known for its high thermal conductivity, excellent thermal shock resistance, and chemical stability.

Thus, BN-BO found high-temperature applications, such as crucibles and nozzles for metal melting and casting because of its ability to withstand extreme temperatures and harsh environments.

Different Grades of BN Ceramics

BN composites are typically considered as different grades of boron nitride because they are made by incorporating boron nitride particles into a variety of matrices, such as polymers, metals, and ceramics. The properties of the resulting composite materials depend on the type and amount of boron nitride used, as well as the properties of the matrix material.

The table below compares different grades of BN materials for your reference. To find more excellent boron nitride ceramic materials, please check our website.

Table 1 Different Grades of Boron Nitride Ceramics

Conclusion

In a word, the different types of boron nitride composites possess promising properties that make them suitable for specific applications. ZSBN is extensively used to manufacture nozzles; BN-AlN is commonly used in power electronics; BN-BO is commonly used for high-temperature applications.

Advanced Ceramic Materials (ACM) is a reliable supplier of boron nitride ceramics of different types and shapes. You can find quality ZSBN, BN-ALN, BN-BO, PBN, and HBN products on our website. Hope that you can select the most appropriate boron nitride ceramics for your projects.