March 2026: We are doing major upgrades to code here, please be patient regarding any issues. If any page is not working for a period of hours, please contact us. Thank you.

Monthly Tech-Tip from Tony Hansen SignUp

Feb 14-15, 2026 - Major Server Upgrade Done

No tracking! No ads!

Materials for Ceramics

1-9 | A | B | C | D | E | F | Frits | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Boron Nitride

Alternate Names: BN

Notes

Boron Nitride is a non oxide man made ceramic that occurs in two distinct particle shapes.

The primary alpha BN has flat particles similar to graphite or kaolinite. Among its other excellent thermal and electrical properties, BN has the ability to resist wetting by molten metals and is thus used as a parting agent for metal casting, especially aluminum). Its particle shape makes BN suitable as a solid lubricant for high temperature applications.

Beta BN has a cubic particle shape and is the second hardest material known. It is made from alpha BN. It is used to make a wide range of wear resistant parts.

Very fine BN powders can be cast into shapes using traditional slurry deflocculation and plaster casting methods. The cast parts separate best from completely dry molds. Items need to be fired to 1500C+.

Related Information

Links

Oxide	Analysis	Formula	Tolerance

Materials	Alumina
Materials	Silicon Carbide
Materials	Boron Carbide
Typecodes	Abrasive Resistant Super Hard Material These materials are generally available in granular form, the particles are cemented together using frits to produce abrasive products. However, powdered and slurried forms of these materials can also be formed and fired by various means to produce hard materials.
Typecodes	Non-Oxide Material Many of these materials are not used in traditional ceramics but they have such incredible properties that some have been included in this database.
URLs	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boron_nitride Boron Nitride at Wikipedia
Glossary	Deflocculation Deflocculation is the magic behind the ceramic casting process, it enables slurries having impossibly low water contents and ware having amazingly low drying shrinkage
Glossary	Hot Pressing
Glossary	Slip Casting A method of forming ceramics. A deflocculated (low water content) slurry is poured into absorbent plaster molds. As it sits in the mold, usually 10+ minutes, a layer builds against the mold walls. When thick enough the mold is drained.

By Tony Hansen
Follow me on

Got a Question?

Buy me a coffee and we can talk