CVD Borides for Corrosion-Resistance Applications

Borides are relatively inert, especially to non-oxidizing reagents. They react violently with fluorine, often with incandescence. Reaction with other halogens is not as violent and may require some heat. Resistance to oxidation, acids, and alkalis is summarized in Table 17.5. In oxidation conditions, a layer of boric oxide is formed on the surface which passivates it to some degree. Boric oxide melts at 450°C and vaporizes at 1860°C. It offers good protection up to 1500°C in a static environments but it has low viscosity at these temperatures and tends to flow under stress and the protection it offers is limited.f k l 

Selected Chemical Properties of Transition-Metal Borides 

Boride Approx. Oxidation Threshold (°C) Resistance to Acids HCl H2SO4 HNO3 Resistance to Alkalis 

Borides are generally resistant to molten metals, at least to those that do not readily form borides, such as copper, zinc, magnesium, aluminum, tin, lead, and bismuth. TiB2 is especially resistant to molten aluminum and, as such, is used in crucibles for evaporation of the metal. 

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