Boron Fiber


Produced in single-filament reactors by chemical vapor deposition. Boron fiber exhibits a unique combination of high compression strength, high modulus and large diameter.


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Boron Fiber is produced in single-filament reactors by chemical vapor deposition, boron fiber exhibits a unique combination of high compression strength, high modulus and large diameter. It provides superior compression properties compared to carbon fiber based composites.

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Elemental boron is deposited on a fine tungsten wire substrate and produced in diameters of 4.0-mil (102-micron) and 5.6-mil (142-micron). The resulting fiber is essentially amorphous boron with a fully borided-tungsten core.

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The textured surface provides an excellent interface in resin-matrix composites, eliminating any need for sizing treatments. Primarily used in resin-matrix composites it is available as a unidirectional prepreg tape with 250ºF and 350ºF cure epoxies.

 

Boron Fiber Properties

PropertyUnits4-mil Boron (Typical)5.6-mil Boron (Typical)3-mil Boron (Typical)
Diameterum10214276
in.x10ˉ³45.63
Cross SectionShapeRoundRoundRound
Densityg/cc2.612.482.82
lbs/in³0.0940.0890.102
Thermal ExpansionPPM/°C4.54.54.5
PPM/°F2.52.52.5
Tensile StrengthMPa4,0004,000-
ksi580580-
Tensile ModulusGPa428400-
msi6258-
Compression Strength (est.*)MPa>6,000--
ksi>900--
HardnessKnoop3,2003,2003,200

*Filament compression strength calculated from composite lamina property and back-out factor.

Unique Properties of Boron Fiber Composites

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•No other composite material has higher compressive strength properties than Boron fiber & Hy-Bor® fiber composites

•Adding Boron fiber to composites with standard & intermediate modulus fibers will increase the tensile & compression modulus allowing reduced thickness/ply count for equivalent stiffness

•When using Hy-Bor®, a designer can reduce the laminate thickness resulting in higher performance at a lower mass

•Hy-Bor® can reduce manufacturing costs & result in a net cost savings

• Reduces processing steps like debulking

• Reduces layup time due to lower ply count

•Hy-Bor® is used in space applications like the Google Earth Cameras because its zero CTE & High Elastic Modulus

•Boron & Hy-Bor® prepreg can be manufactured with epoxy, toughened epoxy, cyanate ester, cyanate siloxane, bismaleimides, phenolic & polyimide resins

•No galvanic corrosion with boron fiber

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