12046-08-1

metallic black cub; -100 mesh 99.5% purity [CER91] [CRC10]

Barium hexaboride has been considered as a candidate for manufacture of a “hot-cathode” electron gun for use in various instruments.

Barium boride can be formed directly from the elements. Ba melts at 727 °C and boron melts at 2076 °C. Therefore, if a vapor of Ba metal at >750 °C (red-heat) is passed over crystals of boron, a chemical reaction forms the desired boride. However, to obtain stoichiometric compositions, it is better to heat the well-mixed powders of Ba and B to obtain specific compounds:
Ba + 6B→BaB₆