Advantages of Boron Nitride Crucibles in High-Temperature and High-Purity Applications
Hexagonal boron nitride is an excellent self-lubricating ceramic capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures while maintaining its lubricating properties, even in high-vacuum environments. Boron nitride (BN) crucibles are typically manufactured from hot-pressed boron nitride blanks, ensuring high density and structural integrity. Mechanically, hexagonal boron nitride behaves similarly to graphite, but it offers the additional advantage of outstanding electrical insulation. Compared with graphite crucibles, BN crucibles exhibit significantly lower risk of carbon contamination and demonstrate greater chemical inertness in many high-temperature processes. In comparison with alumina crucibles, BN crucibles show lower wettability to molten metals, making them especially suitable for applications that demand high purity and minimal interaction between the melt and the container. While different crucible materials are optimized for different process conditions, the appropriate s...