by Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is an inorganic compound composed of boron and nitrogen atoms arranged in a planar honeycomb crystal lattice structure similar to that of graphite and graphene. It was first synthesized in the early 20th century through reactions of boric acid and ammonium chloride under high temperature and pressure. The traditional h-BN production method involved heating boric oxide with ammonia at high temperatures around 1600-2000°C under nitrogen atmosphere. Today, various advanced methods like chemical vapor deposition (CVD) allow more controlled fabrication of high-quality h-BN powders, films and crystals.
In its crystalline form, each boron atom is covalently bonded to three neighboring nitrogen atoms in a Hexagonal Boron Nitride pattern to form strong in-plane B-N bonds while there are only weak van der Waals forces binding the layers. This gives h-BN a structure analogous to graphite, with alternating boron and nitrogen atoms arranged in a 2D honeycomb lattice within the hexagonal crystal planes stacked together. The B-N covalent bond distance is around 1.45 angstroms while the interlayer spacing between planes is around 3.33 angstroms.
Mechanical, Thermal and Hexagonal Boron Nitride Industry
Due to its unique 2D layered structure and bonding characteristics, h-BN possesses some remarkable properties. It is chemically and thermally very stable, with a melting point as high as 3000°C in air. h-BN also has high thermal conductivity, enabling efficient dissipation of heat. It exhibits high mechanical strength and resilience, rankedsecond only to diamond in terms of hardness and elasticity. Being an electrical insulator, h-BN has a wide bandgap of around 5-6 eV. These superior material properties give h-BN distinct functional advantages over other industrial materials for specialized applications.
Rising Demand Across Multiple Markets
Drawing upon its broad spectrum of ideal physical characteristics, global demand for h-BN is witnessing significant growth spanning diverse industrial sectors. Some of the major application markets for h-BN include:
– Lubrication And Coatings: Due to its slippery nanolayered structure, h-BN makes for an excellent dry lubricant and thermally conductive coating material, important in automotive, aerospace and metalworking industries.
–Semiconductors: The wide bandgap and atomic flatness of h-BN enables its usage as an electrical insulator in semiconductor devices including tunnel field-effect transistors (TFETs). It is also gaining prominence as a substrate for graphene electronics.
-Thermal Management: The high thermal conductivity property renders h-BN suitable for applications involving thermal interface materials, heat spreaders and thermal management solutions.
-Ceramic And Glass Manufacturing: h-BN acts as an important additive in producing complex technical ceramics and glass-ceramic materials with tailored properties.
–Nuclear: Pharmaceutical, metallurgy and other high-temperature resistant applications also utilize h-BN’s unique refractory qualities.
According to estimates, the global h-BN market valued at over $150 million in 2020 is expected to expand at approximately 8% CAGR through 2028. Asia Pacific currently dominates consumption led by China, Japan and South Korea while demand is increasing rapidly across North America and Europe as well driven by h-BN’s strategic relevance across multiple future technology domains.
Supply Trends and Regional Developments
With growing commercial importance, securing stable h-BN supply has become an area of focus. Naturally-occurring borax and kernite minerals serve as raw material feedstock but natural reserves worldwide are limited. alternative production methods like high pressure/high temperature synthesis and plasma-enhanced CVD have thus gained prominence to manufacture h-BN in industrial quantities while maintaining stringent quality standards.
Major h-BN producers are based in the United States, China, Japan and Russia. Leading companies including Saint-Gobain, Denka, Showa Denko, ZYX (Japan), HQ Graphene (Netherlands), etc. have also significantly expanded production capacities through recent plant expansions and new facility constructions across different global manufacturing hubs over the last 5 years.
Government initiatives to bolster strategic materials independence have additionally spurred regional developments. For instance, the European Commission has prioritized h-BN for its importance in future electronics under the European Raw Materials Alliance program. Similarly, new h-BN production facilities have come online in the US to locally cater semiconductor and defense applications as part of the nation’s drive for advanced materials security.
In summary, hexagonal boron nitride displays a unique combination of thermal, physical and electrical properties that position it as a critically essential material for enabling next generation technologies. With its diverse cross-industry relevance growing rapidly, the h-BN market is projected to experience continued healthy expansion worldwide driven by both increasing commercialization across established end-use sectors as well as emerging applications on the horizon. Securing sustainable h-BN supplies will thus emerge as a vital consideration for governments, industries and supply chain stakeholders alike to capitalize on the rising global opportunities around this important mineral commodity.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
Author Bio:
Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/money-singh-590844163)
