# Boron nitride, BN

Boron nitride (BN) is a versatile material that exists in various structural forms, each with distinct physical and chemical properties. The two most notable allotropes are hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and cubic boron nitride (c-BN). Hexagonal BN resembles the structure of graphite and is often used as a lubricant and an insulator due to its excellent thermal stability and chemical resistance. It is also transparent to ultraviolet and deep ultraviolet light, which makes it useful in optical applications. Cubic BN, on the other hand, has a structure similar to that of diamond and exhibits extraordinary hardness, second only to diamond itself. It is used in high-pressure applications and as an abrasive material. Both forms have high thermal conductivity and are chemically stable, making them suitable for a variety of high-temperature applications. Boron nitride can be synthesized using methods such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and its properties can be tuned via doping or alloying with other materials. Overall, the diverse structural forms and resultant properties of boron nitride make it a material of significant interest for a wide array of applications, from electronics to cutting tools and optical devices.

## External links

- Boron nitride - Wikipedia
- Boron nitride - NSM Archive