1. Introduction
Cubic boron nitride (CBN) micro powder, as an important superhard material, has a unique and irreplaceable position in the field of modern material processing. Its excellent physical and chemical properties make it widely used in many industrial processing processes such as cutting, grinding, and drilling, and has a significant contribution to improving processing accuracy, efficiency, and extending tool life. This research report aims to deeply explore the characteristics, preparation methods, application status and future development trends of cubic boron nitride micropowder.
2. Characteristics of cubic boron nitride powder
(1) Crystal structure
Cubic boron nitride has a cubic crystal structure similar to diamond. The boron atoms and nitrogen atoms in the crystal are covalently bonded. This strong covalent bond gives the material extremely high hardness and stability.
(2) Physical properties
hardness
With a hardness of 4500 - 5000HV, second only to diamond, it exhibits excellent cutting and grinding capabilities when processing high-hardness alloys, hardened steel and other materials.
Thermal stability
In the air, CBN micropowder begins to oxidize at higher temperatures. It has better thermal stability than diamond and can maintain certain performance in high-temperature environments above 1000°C, making it suitable for high-temperature processing processes.
Wear resistance
Its excellent wear resistance ensures that grinding tools or cutting tools can maintain good shape and cutting performance during long-term processing, reducing the cost and time consumption caused by frequent tool replacement.
(3) Chemical properties
It has strong chemical inertness and almost no chemical reaction with common metal and non-metallic materials at room temperature. It is especially difficult to produce chemical reactions when processing iron group metals, avoiding adhesion and contamination problems during processing and ensuring the quality of the processed surface.
3. Preparation method
(1) High temperature and high pressure synthesis method
This is one of the main methods currently used to prepare cubic boron nitride powder. Under the conditions of high temperature (1500 - 2000℃) and high pressure (5 - 10GPa), hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is used as raw material, and an appropriate amount of catalyst (such as metal or metal compound) is added to cause the structural transformation of hBN to generate cubic nitrogen. Boron. By controlling factors such as reaction conditions, catalyst type and amount, and purity of raw materials, the crystal quality, particle size distribution and other properties of CBN micro powder can be controlled.
(2) Chemical vapor deposition (CVD)
Gaseous compounds containing boron and nitrogen (such as borane and ammonia) are used to react chemically at high temperatures and in a specific atmosphere to deposit cubic boron nitride thin films or micropowder on the surface of the substrate. This method can prepare CBN micropowder with higher purity, finer particle size and uniform distribution, and can achieve precise control of the morphology and structure of the micropowder by controlling the deposition parameters. However, the production cost of the CVD method is relatively high and the production efficiency is low. It is currently mainly used in special fields that require extremely high quality of micro powder.
4. Application status
(1) Cutting tool field
Machining hardened steel
Tools made of CBN micro powder can efficiently cut hardened steel with a hardness of up to HRC60 or above. They are widely used in automobile engine parts, mold manufacturing and other industries. They can significantly improve processing accuracy and surface quality, and reduce subsequent processing steps.
Machining cast iron
For various cast iron materials, CBN tools show good cutting performance, which can effectively avoid tool wear and damage during processing, improve processing efficiency, and reduce processing costs.
(2) Grinding field
Precision grinding
In the precision grinding of hard and brittle materials such as optical glass and ceramics, CBN micro-powder grinding wheels can achieve high-precision, low surface roughness grinding effects. For example, in the manufacturing process of optical lenses, the CBN micro-powder grinding process can ensure that the curvature accuracy and surface finish of the lenses meet strict optical requirements.
Efficient grinding
In the steel industry, CBN micro-powder grinding wheels are used for grinding large workpieces such as rolls. They can quickly remove materials, improve grinding efficiency, prolong the service life of the grinding wheel, and reduce the time of downtime to replace the grinding wheel.
(3) Drilling field
As a cutting edge material for drilling tools, CBN micro powder plays an important role in petroleum, geological drilling and other fields. Its high hardness and wear resistance can effectively improve the drilling speed and service life of the drill bit, especially when drilling hard formations.
5. Market analysis
(1) Market size
With the continuous upgrading of the manufacturing industry and the growing demand for high-precision and high-efficiency processing, the market size of cubic boron nitride powder has shown a steady expansion trend. The global CBN micron powder market has exceeded billions of dollars in recent years and is expected to maintain a high growth rate in the coming years.
(2) Competitive landscape
At present, companies engaged in the production of cubic boron nitride powder worldwide are mainly concentrated in a few countries and regions, such as the United States, Japan, Germany and China. Among them, some well-known international companies occupy a large share in the high-end market by virtue of their advanced technology and brand advantages, while companies in emerging market countries such as China are gradually rising in the mid- to low-end markets through cost advantages and technological innovation, and market competition is becoming increasingly fierce.
6. Future development trends
(1) Preparation technology innovation
Researchers will continue to explore new preparation methods and process improvements to reduce production costs and improve micropowder quality and yield. For example, develop new catalyst systems to improve the efficiency and product quality of high-temperature and high-pressure synthesis methods, optimize process parameters and equipment of chemical vapor deposition methods, and achieve large-scale industrial production.
(2) Micro powder performance optimization
By controlling the crystal growth process, doping modification and other means, the hardness, toughness, thermal stability and other properties of CBN powder can be further improved to meet the ever-increasing processing requirements. For example, CBN micropowder with special crystal face structure or nanostructure is developed to show better performance in specific processing fields.
(3) Expand application areas
In addition to traditional cutting, grinding and drilling fields, cubic boron nitride powder will have wider applications in emerging fields such as semiconductor processing and aerospace parts manufacturing. With the rapid development of these fields, the demand for high-performance CBN micropowder will continue to increase, driving the further expansion of its application scope.
(4) Green and environmentally friendly manufacturing
During the preparation and application process, more attention is paid to environmental protection and resource recycling. Develop environmentally friendly preparation processes to reduce waste emissions, improve raw material utilization, and develop recyclable CBN micropowder products or processing techniques to meet the requirements of sustainable development.
7. Conclusion
As a key superhard material, cubic boron nitride powder plays an extremely important role in modern industrial processing. Its unique properties make it widely used in many fields, and with the continuous advancement of preparation technology and the continuous expansion of application fields, the future market prospects are broad. However, in the face of increasingly fierce market competition and rising technical requirements, enterprises and research institutions need to continue to invest in R&D resources and continue to innovate to promote the healthy and rapid development of the cubic boron nitride micropowder industry and provide a foundation for the global manufacturing industry. The upgrade provides strong support.
