Scholars at Moscow State Research Institute of Steel and Alloy (NUST MISIS), Russia's National Research Technical University, have invented an economical method for obtaining cubic boron nitride nanoparticles. This method is helpful for the production of composite modifiers—reinforcing agents—on an industrial scale. The findings were published in the scientific journal Materials Science and Engineering A.
Composite materials are multiple materials, usually composed of plastic foundations, which are reinforced with a strong filler. Many composite materials surpass traditional materials and alloys in terms of mechanical properties, but are thinner and lighter.
Scholars at the Institute of Inorganic Nanomaterials Research of this college have invented the technology of obtaining nanoparticles by controlling the layering of cubic boron nitride in a ball mill and crushing its fine powder. Cubic boron nitride is a typical sandwich material, and graphene is a structural twin. Senior laboratory researcher and co-author of the study, Andrei Kovallis, said: "The results of the work show that the efficiency of layering and pulverizing cubic boron nitride in a ball mill is extremely high, which helps To ensure efficient production of nanoparticles with an average size of 50 nm to 100 nm. "
Using the obtained nanoparticles, scholars have synthesized the first composite cermet materials on the basis of aluminum that has been shown to be extremely hardened. According to calculations, the cost of acquiring similar nanostructures by the new technology may be reduced to one-twentieth of the cost of using traditional high-temperature synthesis methods.