Pyrolytic Boron Nitride (PBN) is a high-purity material derived from hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. This method aligns boron nitride crystals parallel to the substrate, resulting in exceptional purity (99.99%) and durability. PBN’s CVD structure limits wall thickness to 3mm but provides high mechanical strength, making it ideal for high-vacuum environments and molten metal applications.
Its unique thermal properties, such as anisotropic thermal conductivity and resistance to high temperatures, make PBN the preferred material for vacuum furnace components and crystal growth crucibles. In molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), a standard process for gallium arsenide (GaAs) crystal production, PBN crucibles excel due to their superior performance.
Key properties of PBN include:
- Excellent thermal conductivity
- High insulation resistance
- Exceptional dielectric strength across a broad temperature range
- Ultra-high purity
- Non-wettability
- Non-toxic and chemically inert
- Resistance to high temperatures and thermal shock
