Provided is a boron nitride agglomerate. The boron nitride agglomerate is of a multi-stage structure formed by arranging flaky hexagonal boron nitride primary particles in three-dimensional directions through adhesion of an inorganic binder. Further provided is a method for preparing the boron nitride agglomerate. The method comprises: mixing flaky hexagonal boron nitride primary particles with an inorganic binder, and controlling the mass of the inorganic binder to account for 0.02-20% of the mass of the flaky hexagonal boron nitride primary particles, so as to obtain the boron nitride agglomerate. The boron nitride agglomerate provided can be added to thermosetting resin compositions, and resin sheets, resin composite metal foil, prepregs, laminates, metal foil-covered laminates, and printed wiring boards prepared using the same have higher boron nitride addition, high thermal conductivity, and high peel strength.

Provided is a boron nitride agglomerate. The boron nitride agglomerate is of a multi-stage structure formed by arranging flaky hexagonal boron nitride primary particles in three-dimensional directions through adhesion of an inorganic binder. Further provided is a method for preparing the boron nitride agglomerate. The method comprises: mixing flaky hexagonal boron nitride primary particles with an inorganic binder, and controlling the mass of the inorganic binder to account for 0.02-20% of the mass of the flaky hexagonal boron nitride primary particles, so as to obtain the boron nitride agglomerate. The boron nitride agglomerate provided can be added to thermosetting resin compositions, and resin sheets, resin composite metal foil, prepregs, laminates, metal foil-covered laminates, and printed wiring boards prepared using the same have higher boron nitride addition, high thermal conductivity, and high peel strength.

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) having a second scintillating material, and in some embodiments an enhanced 10B content, may be used for efficient thermal neutron detection. The second scintillating material may be a crystal coating on the nanotubes, and/or crystal dispersed within the BNNT material. Crystal-coated BNNT materials enable detecting thermal neutrons by detecting light from the decay products of the thermal neutron’s absorption on the 10B atoms in the BNNT material, as the resultant decay products pass through the crystal-coating. Embodiments of thermal neutron detectors are described. Methods for preparing BNNTs with a second scintillating material are also described.

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) having a second scintillating material, and in some embodiments an enhanced 10B content, may be used for efficient thermal neutron detection. The second scintillating material may be a crystal coating on the nanotubes, and/or crystal dispersed within the BNNT material. Crystal-coated BNNT materials enable detecting thermal neutrons by detecting light from the decay products of the thermal neutron’s absorption on the 10B atoms in the BNNT material, as the resultant decay products pass through the crystal-coating. Embodiments of thermal neutron detectors are described. Methods for preparing BNNTs with a second scintillating material are also described.

A reinforcement for increasing the strength and toughness and other properties in both transverse and in-piano directions for a composite material, and methods of manufacture therefor. The reinforcement has a layer of a nanoforest of vertical nanotubes or nanowires and a layer of horizontal nanotubes or nanowires. The reinforcement can be made by rolling a vertical nanoforest to produce a collapsed layer of horizontal nanofubes or nanowires, then growing a vertical nanoforest on the collapsed layer. The reinforcement can be grown directly on fibers which are used to reinforce the composite material, or alternatively Interleaved with layers of those fibers before the composite part is cured. The reinforcement and manufacturing method are compatible with almost any composite material in any shape, including epoxy, polymer, or ceramic matrix composites, or any manufacturing method, including prepreg, wet-layup and matrix film stacking. The present invention reduces scrap, rework, and repair hours for composites manufacturing.

Described herein are apparatus, systems, and methods for the continuous production of BNNT fibers, BNNT strands and BNNT initial yarns having few defects and good alignment. BNNTs may be formed by thermally exciting a boron feedstock in a chamber in the presence of pressurized nitrogen. BNNTs are encouraged to self-assemble into aligned BNNT fibers in a growth zone, and form BNNT strands and BNNT initial yarns, through various combinations of nitrogen gas flow direction and velocities, heat source distribution, temperature gradients, and chamber geometries.

The present invention provides boron nitride particles that can be used for preparation of a thermally conductive material having excellent thermally conductive properties and peel strength. In addition, the present invention provides a composition for forming a thermally conductive material, a thermally conductive material, a thermally conductive sheet, and a device with a thermally conductive layer, in relation to the boron nitride particles. In the boron nitride particles of the present invention, an atomic concentration ratio of oxygen atomic concentration to boron atomic concentration on a surface, detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, is 0.12 or greater, and a D value obtained by Equation (1) is 0.010 or less.

D value=B(OH).sub.3(002)/BN(002)  Equation (1) B(OH).sub.3(002): Peak strength derived from a (002) plane of boron hydroxide having a triclinic space group measured by X-ray diffraction BN(002): Peak strength derived from the (002) plane of boron nitride having a hexagonal space group measured by X-ray diffraction.

Provided is a boron nitride sintered body including boron nitride particles and pores, in which an average pore diameter of the pores is less than 2 μm. Provided is a method for manufacturing a boron nitride sintered body, the method including: a nitriding step of firing a boron carbide powder in a nitrogen pressurized atmosphere to obtain a fired product containing boron carbonitride; and a sintering step of molding and heating a blend containing the fired product and a sintering aid to obtain the boron nitride sintered body including boron nitride particles and pores, in which the sintering aid contains boron oxide and calcium carbonate, and the blend contains 1 to 20 parts by mass of a boron compound and a calcium compound in total with respect to 100 parts by mass of the fired product.

Provided is a boron nitride sintered body including boron nitride particles and pores, in which an average pore diameter of the pores is less than 2 μm. Provided is a method for manufacturing a boron nitride sintered body, the method including: a nitriding step of firing a boron carbide powder in a nitrogen pressurized atmosphere to obtain a fired product containing boron carbonitride; and a sintering step of molding and heating a blend containing the fired product and a sintering aid to obtain the boron nitride sintered body including boron nitride particles and pores, in which the sintering aid contains boron oxide and calcium carbonate, and the blend contains 1 to 20 parts by mass of a boron compound and a calcium compound in total with respect to 100 parts by mass of the fired product.

A method and apparatus for preparing boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) according to an embodiment may ensure mass-production, may increase yield by reducing a production time, and may prepare BNNTs with high purity.