Below is a list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions. If you are unable to find the answer to your question in the FAQs, please Contact Us.
You can fill out the ‘Request a Sample’ form. Make sure to give us a brief description of your application and your project timeline so we can best help you. Please note our typical sample size for powders is 1 lb. and for coatings is an 8 oz. sample jar.
Contact our team at BNSales@saint-gobain.com for a formal quotation for the quantities you require, if you haven’t done so already. You may then make your PO to:
Saint-Gobain Advanced Ceramics
168 Creekside Drive
Amherst, NY 14228
Make sure to include the Quote number, and send the PO directly to BNSales@saint-gobain.com for the fastest processing.
All forms needed for placing an order, making a payment, applying for our standard Net 30 terms, and your supplier database can be found here: Saint-Gobain Boron Nitride Customer Onboarding
Orders valued up to $15,000 may be paid using a credit card. You can fill out the credit card authorization form found at Saint-Gobain Boron Nitride Customer Onboarding and send it to BNSales@saint-gobain.com
Our Boron Nitride manufacturing plant is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified. ISO certificates are available below.
In simple terms, hexagonal boron nitride, hBN, is very similar to graphite. It is the most stable and soft among BN polymorphs, and is therefore used as a filler, lubricant and an additive to cosmetic products. The cubic boron nitride, cBN, has similar crystal structure as diamond, and is the second- hardest known material after diamond.
Here at Saint-Gobain we do not supply cBN.
Pyrolytic boron nitride, or PBN, is hexagonal boron nitride synthesized and grown on a substrate via chemical vapor deposition.
Here at Saint-Gobain we do not supply PBN.
The best results occur when there is percolation of the filler particles through the thickness of the composite. This creates a continuous thermal pathway along the filler particles, which will boost the thermal conductivity much more than a system without good particle-to-particle contact. The percolation threshold should be considered when determining the amount of filler to add to the system.
Boron nitride grade selection for thermal conductivity improvement typically depends on 3 key factors –
You should be sure that the largest particle size does not exceed the intended thickness or cross section of the final product. It isn’t uncommon for formulators to mix more than one size distribution to achieve better packing of the BN particles and optimal percolation in the resin matrix.
Platelets tend to align in the direction of resin flow, and due to its inherent anisotropy, offer a very good in-plane thermal conductivity. Platelets also allow for the addition of BN to systems that require a very thin layer or bond line that would be too big to allow agglomerates to be added.
Agglomerate grades - where small BN platelets are randomly oriented in all directions, like a snowball - overcome this limitation making BN an isotropic filler suitable for in-plane as well as through-plane thermal conductivity improvements. Spherical Agglomerates (SA grades) are lower density, but have the benefit of high flowability, packing, and tight particle size distribution. High Density Agglomerates (HD grades) are the strongest agglomerates and will resist breakdown during mixing.
Platelet grades are single-crystal BN particles, that are small but robust, and do not break down under high shear forces. Platelet grades are suitable for high shear operations like twin screw compounding and extrusion.
Spherical and agglomerated grades, on the other hand, are comprised of multiple small boron nitride platelets, held together by interlocking planes without addition of any binder system. This makes these grades particularly susceptible to breaking apart when subjected to high shear. These grades are suitable for low-medium shear mixing operations.
BN is white, non-toxic, stable, and inert. It is oxidation resistant up to about 900°C (unlike graphite, which oxidizes below 500°C). BN keeps its lubricity above 500°C, which is the limiting temperature for graphite as a solid lubricant in air. BN also retains it lubricity in inert or vacuum conditions.
In addition, boron nitride has a low dielectric constant, making it an ideal material for insulation, protection and low dielectric loss.
Boron nitride powders are the lamellar form of BN, which resembles graphite. Each powder particle is a platelet made up of many layers. Each layer is a flat plane of covalently bonded boron and nitrogen atoms in a hexagonal pattern. While the bonds within each layer are strong, the forces keeping those layers together, called Van der Waals forces, are very weak, causing the soft and lubricious effect when the platelets are rubbed or sheared, and the layers cleave apart.
Additionally, the surfaces of high purity Saint-Gobain BN crystals are free of carbon and other impurities, and therefore there is no “drag” or sticky feeling when used in cosmetic formulations.
The key difference is in particle size and crystal morphology. All grades are high purity and pass global regulations for heavy metals. With grades ranging from 2 to 30 microns in average diameter, the appearance will change as well, going from a matte white appearance to a more translucent or shiny appearance as platelet diameter increases.
Single platelets of high purity hexagonal BN appear transparent when viewed through the platelet face. This can be seen visually on large platelets, which appear to sparkle when light reflects off the platelet face. Most fine mesh BN powders form agglomerates that, if not dispersed, appear white and opaque.
The amount of BN filler in a formulation is completely up to formulator, the application, and desired results. BN is typically added to cosmetic formulations from 3 – 10%.
Standard packaging for boron nitride powders is 25 kg in cardboard boxes or drums. Depending on the grade, our manufacturing lot sizes could be between 250 lbs to 1200 lbs.
The coefficient of thermal expansion for BN is so small that it is nearly zero, giving it dimensional stability across a wide range of temperatures. Coupled with its low thermal mass, due to instrinsically high thermal conductivity and low density (about 50% lower than alumina), BN is virtually unaffected by rapid increases and decreases in temperature.
Our Combat® boron nitride grades are differentiated based on their composition, and therefore the specific properties they offer.
Please contact us for help with grade selection for your application.
The pressing process to create a solid BN block induces some alignment of BN platelets in the process. This creates properties of the material that can vary based on the orientation of that part relative to the pressing direction. The difference in values of several properties in parallel and perpendicular to the pressing direction can be noted in the technical data sheet on the product page.
Learn more on directionality of boron nitride machinable ceramics.
It is important to know the properties critical to your application, so parts are machined in appropriate direction. We encourage you clearly mark the desired directionality in your part drawing as well as PO. Without such specification, we cannot guarantee a particular directionality in your parts.
The parent billet for our grades HP, M and M26 are 19” x 19” x 16”. Parent billet size for ZSBN is 19” x 19” x 6”. We can make parts that fit the envelop of the parent billet.
Due to the unique processing steps of our industry leading, high purity grade AX05, we can make parts that fit the parent billet envelop of 19” x 19” x 16”; however, the maximum wall thickness can not exceed 1.5”. For example, we cannot supply a rod 12” dia x 12” long, but we can supply a tube 12” OD, 10.5” ID and 12” long.
Standard shapes are available for ALL GRADES. Dimensions below are shown in inches. Note that due to the parent billet size limitation, ZSBN square bars & rods are only available with 6" length.
Plates | Square Bars | Rods | ||||||
Thickness | Width | Length | Width x Height | Length* | Diameter | Length* | ||
0.25" | 5" | 6" | 0.25" x 0.25" | 8" or 16" | 0.25" | 8" or 16" | ||
0.25" | 5" | 12" | 0.38" x 0.38" | 8" or 16" | 0.38" | 8" or 16" | ||
0.25" | 10" | 12" | 0.50" x 0.50" | 8" or 16" | 0.50" | 8" or 16" | ||
0.50" | 5" | 6" | 0.63" x 0.63" | 8" or 16" | 0.63" | 8" or 16" | ||
0.50" | 5" | 12" | 0.75" x 0.75" | 8" or 16" | 0.75" | 8" or 16" | ||
0.50" | 10" | 12" | 1.00" x 1.00" | 8" or 16" | 1.00" | 8" or 16" | ||
0.75" | 5" | 6" | 1.5" x 1.5" | 8" or 16" | 1.5" | 8" or 16" | ||
0.75" | 5" | 12" | 2.00" x 2.00" | 8" or 16" | 2.00" | 8" or 16" | ||
0.75" | 10" | 12" | *ZSBN only available with 6” length | *ZSBN only available with 6” length | ||||
1.00" | 5" | 6" | **Tolerances : | +0.020/-0.000" on diameter | ||||
1.00" | 5" | 12" | +0.063/-0.000" on length | |||||
1.00" | 10" | 12" |
Plates & bars available in saw cut or finished tolerances
Saw Cut Tolerance: +0.250"/-0.000" on ALL dimensions
Finished Tolerance: +/-0.010" on (wdth/thck) / +0.063"/-0.000" length
Our standard tolerance for saw cut parts are +0.250 (+6.35mm) / -0.000 (0.0mm). Below are our standard tolerance guideline for machined parts, unless specified otherwise by our customers.
Standard Tolerances | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part Name | Diameter | Thickness | Length | O.D. | I.D. | |||||
inches | mm | inches | mm | inches | mm | inches | mm | inches | mm | |
Wafers |
±0.015 | ±0.4 | +0.000 -0.004 |
+0.0 -0.1 |
n/a | n/a | n/a | |||
Rods | +0.020 -0.000 |
+0.5 -0.0 |
n/a | +0.063 -0.000 |
+1.6 |
n/a | n/a | |||
Discs (<1" thk) |
±0.020 | ±0.5 | ±0.010 | ±0.3 | n/a | n/a | n/a | |||
Washer / Ring (disc w/I.D.; <1" thk) |
n/a | ±0.010 | ±0.3 | +0.063 -0.000 |
+1.6 -0.0 |
±0.020 | ±0.5 | ±0.010 | ±0.3 | |
Tubes | n/a | n/a | +0.063 -0.000 |
+1.6 -0.0 |
±0.020 | +0.5 | ±0.010 | ±0.3 | ||
Crucible | n/a | n/a | +0.063 -0.000 |
+1.6 -0.0 |
±0.020 | +0.5 | ±0.010 | ±0.3 | ||
Width | Thickness | Length | ||||||||
inches | mm | inches | mm | inches | mm | |||||
Bars | ±0.010 | ±0.3 | ±0.010 | ±0.3 | +0.063 -0.000 |
+1.6 -0.0 |
n/a | n/a | ||
Plates | ±0.010 | ±0.3 | ±0.010 | ±0.3 | +0.063 -0.000 |
+1.6 -0.0 |
n/a | n/a |
We have machining facilities inhouse that allow us to serve the customers that want machined components. We ask you send us your drawing or sketch with grade reference, directionality preference if any, and tolerance specifications. All Combat® BN grades are easily machined and detailed surfaces, pockets, channels, grooves, holes, threads, etc. can be designed into the finished part.
The key feature to note is that boron nitride is machined dry - without coolants or lubricants. Most grades can be machined with standard carbide tip tooling. ZSBN requires diamond tipped tooling for efficient operation.
The shelf life for solid BN grades is 3 years. Boron nitride should always be stored in a dry space, tightly sealed, in its original packaging if possible, to avoid exposure to moisture.
Boron nitride ceramic that has been sitting past its shelf life or has not been stored according to the storage guidelines may have picked moisture and will not perform as intended. The best way to use such material is by baking it to ensure it is restored to its original condition. We recommended soaking for 6 hours or longer in Nitrogen at the rate of 10°C/min to 450°C, followed by cooling down at the same rate. If heated too quickly, spalling may take place. Other protecting atmosphere, such as Ar, can also be used. If the materials are in a protecting atmosphere, the soak temperature can be as high as 1200°C.
The main difference is the type of binder, but there are also various levels of BN content, pH and total solids content. The datasheet lists our commercially available grades as well as their differences.
Grade SF+ is concentrated, thick coating with yogurt-like consistency. This material must be diluted before being applied by spraying and many of our customers routinely dilute it before they apply by brushing. Type 10SF+, on the other hand, is a ready-to-apply, thinner formulation that eliminates the messiness of diluting on site.
Type SF+ and 10SF+ can operate at the highest temperature (over 1500°C) in N2 or inert environments. BN in all of our coatings starts to oxidize in air at around 900°C.
Yes, our CeraGlide Best Practices bulletin outlines recommendations for applying our coatings in detail. Whether spraying, brushing, or dipping, it is common practice to conduct trials with your specific substrate and application method to find the best conditions. Preheating the substrate to 100-200°F can help improve adhesion and reduce drying times for all coating grades. Once the coating is dry and has reached the desired thickness (we recommend building up layers with approx. 0.001" thickness), the coating is ready to use - no bake-out is required.
Shelf life for BN coatings is 1 year for an unopened container. The coatings should be stored in a tightly sealed container at room temperature.
Our coatings are available in the following packaging options:
Packaging and Shipping Matrix | ||||
Unit Volume Sold | Packaging | Packaging | Approx. | Approx. |
Plastic Pail | Increments | Container | Shipping Weight | Product Weight |
1 Gallon | 1 Gallon | Carton | 12 lb | 10 lb |
4 Gallon | Carton | 46 lb | 40 lb | |
24 Gallon | Wooden Crate | 315 lb | 240 lb | |
33" x 33" x 22" | ||||
32 Gallon | Wooden Crate | 403 lb | 320 lb | |
33" x 33" x 22" | ||||
48 Gallon | Wooden Crate | 584 lb | 480 lb | |
33" x 33" x 30" | ||||
5 Gallon | 5 Gallon | Carton | 55 lb | 50 lb |
30 Gallon | Wooden Crate | 370 lb | 300 lb | |
33" x 33" x 22" |
Packaging and Shipping Matrix - Metric | ||||
Unit Volume Sold | Packaging | Packaging | Approx. | Approx. |
Plastic Pail | Increments | Container | Shipping Weight | Product Weight |
3.8 Liters | 3.8 Liter | Carton | 6 kg | 5 kg |
15.2 Liter | Carton | 21 kg | 8 kg | |
91.2 Liter | Wooden Crate | 143 kg | 109 kg | |
838mm x 838mm x 559mm | ||||
121.6 Liter | Wooden Crate | 183 kg | 146 kg | |
838mm x 838mm x 559mm | ||||
182.4 Liter | Wooden Crate | 266 kg | 218 kg | |
838mm x 838mm x 762mm | ||||
19 Liters | 19 Liter | Carton | 25 kg | 23 kg |
114 Liter | Wooden Crate | 168 kg | 136 kg | |
838mm x 838mm x 559mm |