Boron nitride is used in the manufacturing of crucibles for semiconductor melting, high-temperature containers for metallurgy, semiconductor heat dissipating insulating components, high-temperature bearings, thermocouple sleeves, and glass forming molds, among others.
Typically produced boron nitride is in a graphite-like structure, commonly known as white graphite. Another form is the diamond-like structure, which shares a similar transformation principle to that of graphite turning into diamond. Graphite-type boron nitride can be converted into diamond-like boron nitride under high temperatures (1800℃) and high pressures (800Mpa). This boron nitride features a B-N bond length (156pm) similar to that of diamond's C-C bond length (154pm), and its density is also comparable to diamond. Its hardness is on par with diamond, and it has superior thermal resistance. It is a new type of ultra-hard material with high-temperature resistance, used for making drill bits, abrasive tools, and cutting tools.
