STRONTIUM BORIDE

Chemical properties

-325 mesh 10μm or less with 99.5% purity; refractory material [KIR78] [CER91]

Physical properties

Strontium boride appears as a crystalline black powder. Closer examination reveals slightly translucent dark red crystals capable of scratching quartz. It is very stable and has a high melting point and density. Although not thought to be toxic, it is an irritant to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. It has the formula of SrB6, with a molecular weight of 152.49 g/mol. It is a black crystalline solid (15.0 °C) with a density of 3.39 g/cm³, and a melting point of 2235.0°C. Strontium boride, along with other alkali earth metal borides, has been shown to exhibit weak ferromagnetism at low temperatures.

The Uses of STRONTIUM BORIDE

Strontium boride is used in insulation and nuclear control rods.

Preparation

Strontium boride can be formed directly from the elements. Sr melts at 777°C and boron melts at 2076 °C. Therefore, if a vapor of Sr metal at >850°C (red-heat) is passed over crystals of boron, reaction forms the desired boride. However, to obtain stoichiometric compositions, it is better to heat the well-mixed powders of Sr and B to obtain specific compounds:
Sr+ 6B→SrB₆