Hexagonal boron nitride coatings on metal alloys increase durability, reduce friction, and protect against harsh conditions, paving the way for improvements in solar panels. semiconductoraerospace parts.
Researchers have found that stainless steel and other metal alloys coated with hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) exhibit non-stick or low-friction qualities, as well as long-term resistance to severe corrosion and high-temperature oxidation in air. We have demonstrated that protection is improved.
Metal alloys (mixtures of two or more metals) are made to be strong, durable, and resistant to corrosion and oxidation. By adding coatings, or “armor,” to make materials more durable, scientists can strengthen existing products and enable the creation of new, innovative products.
Applications of armor metal alloys
For example, armor can conduct heat in solar panels and increase their ability to withstand environmental factors. Additionally, semiconductors maintain proper operating temperatures, allowing aerospace turbine blades to prevent wear, reduce friction, and withstand high-temperature conditions.
Innovative coating process
hBN coatings are produced from a combination of a solid boron source and molecular nitrogen using a process called atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition.
“This synthesis technology addresses the problem of scalability in applications where aspects such as cost and process safety have been issues,” said ORNL’s Ivan Vlassiouk, who led the research. “In addition to providing versatile protective layers for steels and metals, this process can be used to synthesize single and few-layer hBN for novel two-dimensional electronic and photonic devices. We have the potential to improve its performance.”
References: “Armor for Steel: Facile Synthesis of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Films on M. Meyer, Kai Hsiao, Dale Briggs, Nikolai Lavric, John Kum, Erkan Kakmak, Sumner B. Harris, Marty Cheka , Liam Collins, John Lasseter, Rhys Emery, John Reil, Philip D. Luck, Eijin Stehle, Pavan Chaturvedi, Piran R. Kidambi, Gong Ilya Ivanov, October 2023 The 20th, Advanced materials interface.
DOI: 10.1002/admi.202300704