NickelBor

NickelBor is a term used in materials science to refer to nickel boride–based intermetallic phases, a family of compounds containing nickel and boron. In practice, the name often denotes binary nickel-boron alloys near the stoichiometries Ni2B and Ni3B. The materials are studied for their hardness, wear resistance, and catalytic properties.

NickelBor phases are formed as intermetallic compounds with limited solubility of boron in nickel. They crystallize in ordered structures whose exact symmetry depends on temperature, boron content, and synthesis route. The material can be produced as bulk metal, powders, or as coatings.

Typical synthesis methods include high-temperature solid-state reaction between nickel and boron powders, or deposition techniques such as electroplating or electroless deposition followed by heat treatment to promote boride formation. Mechanical alloying can also produce nanocrystalline NickelBor phases.

NickelBor intermetallics are generally hard and wear-resistant but can be brittle. They show metallic conductivity and composition-dependent magnetic behavior. Potential applications include protective coatings for wear resistance, and catalytic materials for chemical transformations; research on their catalytic performance covers a variety of reactions.

Safety and handling: boron-containing materials should be handled with standard precautions appropriate to powders or bulk solids, with attention to inhalation and dust control as dictated by the specific form. Research on NickelBor is ongoing, with studies focusing on synthesis optimization, phase stability, and property evaluation.

See also: nickel boride, intermetallic compounds, electroless nickel boron coatings.