Investigation of production possibilities of Nanomaterial with boron content

Boron compounds, which have a wide use nowadays, are so remarkable that they leave their mark on the century and are very important for our country, since it has the greatest boron resource. The fact that high value-added boron products must be made by using the resources effectively is very important for the welfare and the future of Turkey. Boron compounds, whose production technologies are developed, include boron carbide, boron nitride, boron hydride, boron alloy and aluminium borate. Boron carbide nanofibers, due to features such as extra hardness, lightness, high elastic module and neutron capture, have a wide application field in ballistic applications and nuclear reactors. Alumina borate nanofibers, owing to features like high melting temperature, low density and temperature expansion coefficient and creep resistance, have applications in composite and electronic ceramics. In this study, boron carbide and aluminium borate nanofibers have been produced by electrospinning or nanotemplate technique.Two different methods were used to produce boron carbide nanofiber by the electrospinning. In the first method, fibers were produced from solutions prepared from boric acid, boron isopropoxide and borane 1,2-bis(tert-butylthio)ethane complex precursors by using electro-spinning method. During the nanofiber production, parameters affecting the fiber morphology, such as solution flow rate, the distance between the needle tip and collector, and the applied voltage, were also investigated. In the second method, PAN nanofibers produced from polyacrylonitrile/dimethylformamide solution were used as a nanotemplate and carbon source. Aluminium acetate stabilized with boric acid or boric acid/aluminium nitrate was used as precursors so as to fabricate aluminium borate nanofibers. The effect of viscosity on the morphology was also investigated. Heat treatment was applied to produced fibers to provide phase change in the fibers. All required characterization processes have been implemented at all levels of fiber production including the solution preparation, electrospinning, and pre- and post- heat treatment.A phase change has occurred partially in fibers produced with the first method however the fiber structure could not be preserved. B4C/C nanofiber production has occurred through the nanotemplate method. On the other hand, aluminium borate nanofibers have been produced successfully using aluminium acetate stabilized with boric acid or boric acid/aluminium borate precursor.