Boron Nitride (BN)

Boron nitride (BN) is a remarkable advanced ceramic material whose unique properties make it stand out in numerous demanding applications. It shares a similar hexagonal crystal structure with graphite, which is why it's also known as hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). This unique boron nitride structure gives it an amazing set of characteristics, making it an ideal choice for high-temperature, high-pressure, insulation, and lubrication applications.

Our boron nitride ceramic is meticulously crafted using precision processes to deliver exceptional comprehensive performance. From boron nitride powder to the final boron nitride products, we are dedicated to providing high-quality solutions that meet our customers' specific needs. h boron nitride is the most common and widely used form, with the chemical formula BN (boron nitride formula).

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Key Advantages of Boron Nitride

By choosing boron nitride material, you gain a series of unparalleled advantages:

he boron nitride thermal conductivity is high, especially in the direction perpendicular to the crystal layers, making it an excellent heat dissipation material. It also boasts extreme thermal resistance, withstanding temperatures up to 2800°C in an inert atmosphere.

Even at high temperatures, boron nitride maintains excellent volume resistivity and dielectric strength, making it an ideal high-temperature insulator.

The layered structure of hexagonal boron nitride gives it "self-lubricating" properties, allowing it to be used as a solid lubricant, especially in vacuum and high-temperature environments.

Boron nitride exhibits excellent non-wetting characteristics against molten metals, glass, salts, and ceramics. This makes it widely used in boron nitride crucible and molds to prevent material adhesion.

Unlike many other hard ceramics, boron nitride machining is relatively easy. It can be milled, turned, and drilled with precision, much like graphite, to create complex components.

The boron nitride density is relatively low, resulting in lightweight products suitable for applications where weight is a concern.

Industry Applications

Boron nitride (BN) ceramics, due to their high-temperature stability, chemical inertness, electrical insulation, and excellent layer-to-layer thermal conductivity, are widely used in the electronics and semiconductor fields (used as thermal interface materials, thermally conductive insulating substrates, and PBN crucibles and supports for wafer/thin film processing), metallurgy and materials processing (used as crucibles, melting chambers, liquid metal conveying devices, and corrosion-resistant linings), high-temperature and vacuum equipment (used as heat shields, infrared windows, and thermal shock components), and mechanical lubrication and sealing (utilizing the solid lubrication and low friction properties of h-BN). While maintaining electrical insulation while improving thermal conductivity, they play an important role in industries such as aerospace, semiconductor manufacturing, optoelectronic devices, precision ceramic processing, and high-temperature chemical engineering.

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Available grades of Boron Nitride material

Great Ceramic offers multiple BN product grades and formats to suit application demands:

Hexagonal Boron Nitride (Standard)

Boron nitride ceramic (standard) is an advanced ceramic material with excellent high-temperature stability, high thermal conductivity, and self-lubricating properties. With a BN purity of ≥99%, it ranks among the mainstream performance grades in the boron nitride family and offers a high cost-performance ratio. While maintaining excellent electrical insulation, it exhibits good chemical inertness and thermal shock resistance, making it suitable for extreme operating conditions such as high temperature, high vacuum, and corrosion resistance.

Compared to other engineering ceramics (such as alumina and zirconia), boron nitride combines a low coefficient of friction with excellent processability, enabling long-term stable operation in high-temperature environments and enabling precision machining. It is suitable for the manufacture of critical components requiring high-temperature insulation and lubrication.

Key Features

  • High-Temperature Stability: It can withstand temperatures exceeding 2000°C in an inert atmosphere or vacuum for extended periods and is stable to approximately 900°C in air, making it suitable for use in extreme temperature environments.
  • Excellent Electrical Insulation: With a volume resistivity exceeding 10¹³ Ω·cm and high dielectric strength, it meets high-voltage and high-temperature insulation requirements.
  • High Thermal Conductivity and Low Thermal Expansion Coefficient: Thermal conductivity can reach 30–60 W/(m·K), and the coefficient of thermal expansion is low (approximately 1–2×10⁻⁶/K), allowing for excellent compatibility with a wide range of materials, reduced thermal stress, and excellent thermal shock resistance.
  • Self-lubricating and Low Friction Coefficient: The hexagonal crystal structure imparts interlayer slip properties, maintaining lubrication even under dry friction or high-temperature conditions.
  • Excellent Chemical Inertness: Unreactive and non-wetting to most acids, alkalis, salts, and molten metals, it is particularly well-suited for metal smelting and glass forming processes.
  • Excellent Machinability: Its hardness is lower than that of ceramics such as alumina, allowing it to be precisely machined using conventional carbide tools for turning, milling, drilling, and other precision machining.

Typical Applications

  • Crucibles, thermal insulation sheets, and supports in high-temperature metallurgical equipment
  • High-temperature insulation and structural components in single crystal growth furnaces and vacuum furnaces
  • Anti-sticking and isolation components for handling molten metals such as aluminum and magnesium
  • Glass forming molds and anti-sticking liners
  • High-voltage electrical insulation and heat dissipation substrates
  • Self-lubricating wear-resistant parts such as high-temperature bearings and seals

Production and Processing

Conventional boron nitride ceramics are produced through chemical synthesis using boron trioxide (B₂O₃) and ammonia (NH₃) or urea as the primary raw materials. Boron nitride powder is obtained through chemical synthesis. Depending on the application, forming methods such as dry pressing, isostatic pressing, and extrusion can be used.

Sintering is typically performed using hot pressing (1900–2100°C, nitrogen or inert atmosphere). A small amount of oxide is sometimes added as a sintering aid to increase density.

The finished product can be directly subjected to finishing processes such as turning, milling, and drilling. The surface can also be coated with ceramics such as SiC and AlN to enhance mechanical strength and oxidation resistance.

Boron Nitride Ceramics (High Purity)

High-purity boron nitride (BN) ceramics are ultra-high-purity (BN content ≥ 99.5%) advanced ceramic materials with exceptional thermal stability, electrical insulation, self-lubricity, and chemical inertness. By strictly controlling impurity levels, the material's thermal conductivity and insulation reliability are significantly enhanced. They are particularly suitable for extreme operating conditions such as high temperature, high vacuum, and severe corrosion, as well as for the semiconductor, aerospace, and high-end metallurgy industries, which demand stringent purity standards.

Compared to conventional boron nitride ceramics, high-purity grades offer superior electrical, thermal, and chemical stability, significantly reducing the risk of impurity-induced failure, extending the life of critical components, and maintaining stable operation in extreme environments.

Key Features

  • Ultra-high purity: BN content ≥ 99.5% and extremely low impurity content (total Ca, Si, oxides, etc. ≤ 0.5%), ensuring stable and controllable material properties.
  • Excellent thermal performance: Thermal conductivity reaches 50–70 W/(m·K), the coefficient of thermal expansion is as low as approximately 1.0–1.2 × 10⁻⁶/K, and excellent thermal shock resistance, making it suitable for rapid cycling between hot and cold conditions.
  • High-temperature stability: Withstands temperatures exceeding 2000°C for extended periods in an inert atmosphere or vacuum, and is stable to approximately 850–900°C in air.
  • Excellent electrical insulation: Volume resistivity > 10¹⁴ Ω·cm and high dielectric strength meet high-voltage and high-temperature insulation requirements.
  • Self-lubrication and excellent machinability: The hexagonal layered structure provides a low coefficient of friction, making this high-purity product easy to precision machine, allowing complex structural parts to be formed using conventional carbide tools.

Typical Applications

  • Crucibles, thermal insulation, and supports in high-temperature metallurgy and vacuum equipment
  • Anti-sticking and isolation components for molten metals such as aluminum and magnesium
  • High-temperature insulating and heat-dissipating substrates for semiconductor power devices (SiC, GaN, LEDs)
  • Glass molding molds and anti-sticking liners

  • Powder metallurgy nozzles and corrosion-resistant components

  • Vacuum coating equipment components such as CVD/PVD evaporation boats and high-purity isolation plates
  • High-temperature insulation and thermal management components for aerospace and military electronics

Production and Processing

High-purity boron nitride ceramics are produced using ultra-high-purity h-BN powder through a hot pressing process. The sintered high-purity BN has a moderate hardness and can be precision-machined through turning, milling, drilling, and other processes.

Pyrolytic Boron Nitride Ceramics (PBN)

Pyrolytic Boron Nitride (PBN) ceramics are high-purity (≥99.99%) hexagonal boron nitride materials produced using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. This unique deposition method results in a binder-free, impurity-free material with a dense, uniform microstructure, exceptional purity, and excellent anisotropic properties.

Compared to hot-pressed boron nitride (HPBN), PBN offers higher purity, superior airtightness, and a dense, smooth surface. It can be formed directly into desired shapes during the deposition process, making it particularly suitable for ultra-high vacuum, high-purity material processing, and contamination-sensitive semiconductor manufacturing environments.

Key Features

  • Ultra-high purity: BN content ≥ 99.99%, virtually free of impurities such as oxygen, carbon, and metals, making it suitable for use in extremely clean working conditions.
  • High density and airtightness: The CVD-deposited structure is free of pores and microcracks, with extremely low gas permeability, enabling its use in high-vacuum environments.
  • Excellent Thermal Stability: Withstands long-term operation at temperatures exceeding 2000°C in vacuum or inert atmosphere, and is stable to approximately 900°C in air.
  • Excellent Electrical Insulation: Volume resistivity > 10⁴ Ω·cm and high dielectric strength maintain insulation properties even at high temperatures.
  • Anisotropic Thermal Properties: High thermal conductivity parallel to the deposited layer (up to 30–60 W/(m·K)) and lower in the perpendicular direction, facilitating specific thermal management designs.
  • Smooth Surface Finish and Direct Formability: The deposited part's surface is dense and smooth, meeting most application requirements without the need for post-processing. Complex shapes such as crucibles and tubes can be directly deposited.

Typical Applications

  • High-purity crucibles and evaporation boats for semiconductor equipment such as MBE (Molecular Beam Epitaxy) and MOCVD
  • Isolators and guide components for high-vacuum coating equipment
  • Melting and evaporation vessels for high-purity metals and alloys
  • Evaporation source components for optical thin film production
  • Ultra-clean, high-temperature supports for high-end electronic device production
  • High-temperature insulation components for aerospace and military applications

Production and Processing

Pyrolytic Boron Nitride Ceramics are produced using the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) process:

  1. Deposition Materials: Boron trichloride (BCl₃) and ammonia (NH₃)
  2. Process Conditions: The reaction occurs within a high-temperature graphite mold at 1800–2000°C. BN is deposited molecularly on the mold's inner wall, gradually forming a dense structure.
  3. Direct Forming: The CVD process allows for direct deposition and molding according to the mold's shape, eliminating the need for sintering and binders, thus preventing secondary contamination.
  4. Post-Processing: Most PBN parts are ready for immediate use. If adjustments are required, precision machining or surface treatment can be performed.

Composite Boron Nitride Ceramics

Compound Boron Nitride Ceramics are a class of engineering ceramic materials based on a boron nitride (BN) matrix reinforced or modified with other ceramic or metal compounds (such as aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), aluminum nitride (AlN), silicon carbide (SiC), zirconium oxide (ZrO₂), and boron oxide glass). Their design goal is to significantly enhance mechanical strength, oxidation resistance, wear resistance, and thermal conductivity while maintaining BN's excellent high-temperature insulation, self-lubricity, and chemical inertness.

Compared to pure BN ceramics, composite Boron Nitride exhibits superior high-temperature strength, density, and environmental adaptability, meeting the demanding operating conditions in metallurgy, semiconductors, vacuum coating, and aerospace.

Key Features

  • Customizable Performance: By selecting different types and proportions of reinforcing phases to suit specific operating conditions, mechanical properties, thermal properties, and chemical stability can be optimized.
  • High-Temperature Stability and Insulation: Most composite BN ceramics can withstand temperatures exceeding 1800–2000°C in an inert atmosphere while maintaining excellent electrical insulation (volume resistivity > 10¹² Ω·cm).
  • Enhanced Mechanical Properties: The addition of Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, or SiC can increase flexural strength by 2–3 times, improve brittleness, and increase impact resistance.
  • Improved Oxidation Resistance: Some composite phases (such as Al₂O₃ and B₂O₃ glassy phases) can form a dense protective film on the surface in high-temperature oxidizing environments, effectively delaying BN oxidation.
  • Adjustable Thermal Conductivity: The introduction of high-thermal conductivity materials such as AlN and SiC can increase the thermal conductivity of conventional BN from 30–60 W/(m·K) to 80–150 W/(m·K), meeting high-power heat dissipation requirements.
  • Machinability Retention: The BN ceramic retains its excellent machinability after composite application, allowing precision machining such as turning, milling, and drilling with conventional carbide tools.

Typical Applications

  • High-temperature anti-sticking and insulation components for metal melting and casting equipment
  • High-temperature molds, glass molding spacers
  • Insulating heat dissipation substrates for high-power semiconductor devices (composite high thermal conductivity phase)
  • Evaporation boats and isolation brackets for vacuum coating equipment
  • High-temperature bearings, sliders, and wear-resistant guides (composite reinforcement phase improves strength and wear resistance)
  • Aerospace high-temperature thermal insulation and structural components

Production and Processing

Raw Material Preparation: Select high-purity BN powder and reinforcement phase powder (such as Al₂O₃, AlN, SiC, ZrO₂), and mix them evenly according to the formula ratio.

Molding Process: Dry pressing, isostatic pressing, or slip casting are commonly used, with different methods selected depending on the complexity of the product.

Sintering methods: Hot pressing (HP), hot isostatic pressing (HIP), or reaction sintering; temperatures typically range from 1700–2000°C in a nitrogen or inert gas atmosphere.

Post-processing: Machining to final shape. Surface coatings (e.g., SiC, Al₂O₃) may be applied as needed to further enhance oxidation and wear resistance.

Key Properties of Boron Nitride

Great Ceramic offers a variety of boron nitride materials for customers to choose from. The following values are typical material properties and may vary depending on product configuration and manufacturing process. For more details, please feel free to contact us.

Parameter GCBN-HBN1 GCBN-HBN2 GCBN-PBN GCBN-B GCBN-C GCBN-D GCBN-E GCBN-S2 GCBN-S3
Main Composition BN ≥ 99%(Standard) BN ≥ 99.5%(High Purity) BN ≥ 99.99% BN + Zr+Al BN + SiC BN + ZrO₂ BN + AlN BN + Si₃N₄ BN + Si₃N₄
Density (g/cm³) 2.0–2.3 ≥2.0 1.95–2.22 2.25–2.35 2.40–2.50 2.80–2.90 2.80–2.90 2.55–2.65 2.75–2.85
Oxygen Content (%) 0.46 <0.3 <0.1 — — — — — —
Porosity (%) 2.6 <2.0 Dense — — — — — —
Leeb Hardness HL ≥330 ≥330 — — — — — — —
3-Point Bending Strength (MPa) 38 40–50 80 65 85 115 120 220 320
Compressive Strength (MPa) 110–150 120–160 — 110 130 225 220 420 480
CTE (×10⁻⁶/K) 2.0–2.8 2.0–2.5 2.0 (a) / 2.6 (c) 2.0 2.8 3.5 2.8 2.7 2.7
Thermal Conductivity (W/m·K) 30–50 50 82.3 (200℃) / 55.3 (900℃) 30 30 20 80 40 40
Max Operating Temp (℃) Air 900 / Vac 2100 / Inert 2300 Air 900 / Vac 2100 / Inert 2300 2000+ Air 1000 / Vac 1800 / Inert 1800 Air 1000 / Vac 1800 / Inert 1800 Air 1000 / Vac 1800 / Inert 1800 Air 1000 / Vac 1800 / Inert 1800 Air 1000 / Vac 1800 / Inert 1800 Air 1000 / Vac 1800 / Inert 1800
Room Temp Resistivity (Ω·cm) >10¹⁴ >10¹⁴ 10¹⁵ >10¹³ >10¹² >10¹² >10¹³ >10¹³ >10¹³
Typical Applications Powder metallurgy, metal evaporation crucibles, insulators Semiconductor equipment, high-temp insulation parts Vacuum coating, semiconductor heaters, insulation components Powder metallurgy, high-temp supports Powder metallurgy Metal casting molds Powder metallurgy Powder metallurgy Powder metallurgy

boron nitride product application cases

Great Ceramic's boron nitride ceramic products, particularly in the forms of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and pyrolytic boron nitride (PBN), offer exceptional thermal conductivity, excellent electrical insulation, chemical inertness, low hardness for easy processing, and excellent high-temperature stability. These properties make our BN parts suitable for use in a wide range of industries. Common applications for our boron nitride products include:

High-purity PBN crucibles for semiconductor crystal growth and metal melt handling where chemical inertness and contamination control are critical.

Heat spreaders, thermal interface pads, and cooling supports that exploit boron nitride thermal conductivity while remaining electrically insulating.

Insulating bases, feedthroughs, and substrates for high-voltage and high-temperature electronics using BN's dielectric strength.

Evaporation boats, liners, and fixtures made from BN for CVD/epitaxy and wafer processing due to low contamination and high purity.

Tubes, rings, plates, and retorts for high-temperature furnaces where thermal shock resistance and chemical stability are required.

Precision machined BN tubes, rods, washers and rings for laboratory, vacuum, and metallurgical applications.

Slides, seals, and bearings that benefit from h-BN's solid-lubricant nature at elevated temperatures.

Liners, nozzles, and contact parts in corrosive or reactive environments where metal parts would fail or contaminate the product.

Thermal isolation, vacuum feedthroughs, and structural parts used where lightweight, thermal stability, and outgassing resistance matter.

CNC-machined, close-tolerance BN components (substrates, spacers, bespoke fixtures) tailored for demanding industrial and research applications.

Boron nitride ceramic nozzles
Hexagonal boron nitride ceramic thread sheath
Aluminum nitride substrate laser cutting
Boron nitride ceramic crucible
Custom processing of boron nitride ceramic insulating ring
Aluminum nitride ceramic spacer
Surface metallized ceramic
Boron nitride ceramic disk

Precautions for Using Boron Nitride Ceramics

When using boron nitride ceramics, following these precautions can help maximize the performance, stability, and life of boron nitride products in demanding industrial applications.

While h-BN is stable in inert or vacuum environments up to 2000 °C (PBN up to 3000 °C), oxidation resistance is limited to around 850–1000 °C in air.

BN ceramics, though softer than many ceramics, are still brittle and can fracture under sudden mechanical load or impact.

To avoid contamination—especially for semiconductor-grade PBN—use clean gloves and dedicated handling equipment.

BN is chemically inert to most acids, alkalis, and molten metals, but strong oxidizers at elevated temperatures may degrade its surface.

BN parts may undergo dimensional changes at high temperatures; precision fits should account for thermal expansion and potential shrinkage.

For assemblies, choose joining techniques (mechanical fastening, high-temperature adhesives, or brazing with compatible metals) that match BN's thermal and mechanical characteristics.

Keep components in dry, dust-free conditions to maintain surface integrity and prevent contamination before installation.

Boron Nitride Machining

One unique advantage of boron nitride is its relatively low hardness (Mohs ~2 for h-BN), which makes it more machinable than many other ceramics. Standard carbide or high-speed steel tools can be used for h-BN, while harder BN composites may require diamond grinding, CNC machining, laser cutting, or ultrasonic machining to ensure accuracy and surface finish.

With a complete range of advanced machining equipment and extensive technical expertise, Great Ceramic provides end-to-end solutions—from material selection and design optimization to precision machining and assembly—ensuring high-quality, high-performance boron nitride ceramic products that meet the most demanding application requirements.

Precision Ceramic CNC Machining

CNC Grinding & Milling

CNC milling, turning, and grinding to micron-level tolerances.

Ceramic Grinding & Polishing

Lapping & Polishing

Surface polishing for smooth finishes and optical-grade surfaces.

Technical Ceramic Laser Cutting

Ceramic Laser Cutting

Laser drilling and cutting for complex geometries.

Ceramic and Metal Brazed Assemblies

Metallization & Welding

Metallization (Mo/Mn, W) for ceramic-to-metal brazing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Boron nitride is a synthetic ceramic material composed of boron and nitrogen atoms. It is a crystal and exists in several forms, including hexagonal, cubic, and pyrolytic boron nitride.

Yes, bn boron nitride is a chemical compound with the formula BN. It is a stable binary compound of boron and nitrogen.

The hardness of boron nitride depends on its crystal structure. Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), similar to graphite, is soft. However, cubic boron nitride (c-BN) has a structure analogous to diamond, making it one of the hardest materials known to man. The hardness comes from the strong covalent bonds in its crystal lattice.

Hexagonal boron nitride is an excellent electrical insulator. It has a high electrical resistance and is used extensively in applications requiring high-temperature insulation.

Hexagonal boron nitride is typically manufactured by reacting boric acid with a nitrogen source like urea at high temperatures. Pyrolytic boron nitride is created through Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), where a gas mixture of boron and nitrogen compounds is deposited on a graphite substrate.

Yes, boron nitride is classified as a high-performance ceramic material, specifically an advanced ceramic.

Yes, due to its crystal structure with atoms held together by strong covalent bonds, boron nitride is a network covalent compound. This is evident in its layered structure similar to graphite (for the hexagonal form) or its diamond-like cubic structure.

No, boron nitride is not a polymer. It is an inorganic crystalline solid with a defined crystal structure, not a long-chain molecule made of repeating subunits.

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Why Choose Great Ceramic's Boron Nitride

  • High Purity: Up to 99.99% for semiconductor-grade applications.

  • Advanced Technology: Hot pressing, and CVD for different BN grades.

  • Custom Solutions: From standard crucibles to complex precision parts.
  • Precision Machining: CNC systems for tight tolerances and smooth finishes.
  • Strict Quality Control: Ensuring consistency and reliability in every batch.
  • End-to-End Service: From design to final assembly, tailored to your application.

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