Structural and Phase Transformations in Boron Nitride Due to Attritor Treatment

The features of phase and structural transformations in the powder of graphite-like boron nitride occurring as the result of the treatment in an attritor are considered. It has been established that the attritor treatment causes an increase in the specific surface area of boron nitride particles by more than an order of magnitude. With increasing the time of the mechanical activation of the powder causes the transformation of BN substructure from the crystalline to nanocrystalline and amorphous one. It has been demonstrated that the phase transformations proceed in boron nitride with the formation of rhombohedral BN and high-pressure phases such as wurtzite and cubic BN with the particle size of submicron range. When the optimal intensity and duration of treatment are exceeded, a reverse transfer of cubic boron nitride is observed to give graphite-like (hexagonal) boron nitride with recrystallizing the latter.