Boron suboxide material and method for its preparation

摘要

A superhard form of boron suboxide comprises at least about 95% by weight B6O and has a KNH100 value of at least about 3800 kg/mm2. In a preferred embodiment, the boron suboxide has an average grain size of about 0.1-40 microns. A method for forming the superhard boron suboxide comprises mixing boron oxide (B2O3) and boron powder and subjecting the mixture to a temperature of 1500 DEG C. to about 2,200 DEG C. and a pressure sufficient to produce the superhard boron suboxide. The superhard boron suboxide may be made by this method with or without a sintering aid being present in the mixture of boron and boron oxide.