Apr 12 2013
Nanoparticles are increasing being adapted for used in biological, chemical, and industrial areas. This article discusses the properties and applications of boron carbide nanoparticles. Boron and carbon are adjacent in the periodic table, with atomic numbers of 5 and 6 respectively.
Boron carbide is an extremely hard ceramic material. Boron carbide nanoparticles appear as gray black powder. They are graded as harmful, especially if inhaled.
Chemical Properties
The chemical properties of boron carbide nanoparticles are outlined in the following table.
| Chemical Data |
| Chemical symbol |
B4C |
| CAS No. |
12069-32-8 |
| Group |
Boron 13
Carbon 14 |
| Electronic configuration |
Boron [He] 2s2 2p1
Carbon [He] 2s2 2p2 |
| Chemical Composition |
| Element |
Content (%) |
| Boron |
78.24 |
| Carbon |
21.73 |
Physical Properties
The physical properties of boron carbide nanoparticles are given in the following table.
| Properties |
Metric |
Imperial |
| Density |
2.52 g/cm3 |
0.091 lb/in3 |
| Molar mass |
55.26 g/mol |
- |
Thermal Properties
The thermal properties of boron carbide nanoparticles are provided in the table below.
| Properties |
Metric |
Imperial |
| Melting point |
2763°C |
5005°F |
| Boiling point |
3500°C |
6332°F |
Manufacturing Process
Boron carbide nanoparticles can be synthesized via a reaction of boron that is obtained from thermal decomposition of magnesium diboride, using multiwall carbon nanotubes. The temperature for this process should be 1150°C (2102°F) for 3 h in vacuum. Good crystallinity can be achieved through this process.
Applications
The key applications of boron carbide nanoparticles are as follows:
- In boron neutron capture therapy, which is a therapy for treating brain cancer
- In biomedical and bioscience areas
- In coatings, plastics, and catalyst applications.
Source: AZoNano