SPHERICAL BORON PARTICLES FROM B2O3

THE ALKALI AND ALKALINE EARTH METALS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE AND COMPLICATE SEPARATING BORON FROM THE REDUCING AGENT OXIDE, AND CARBON THAT PRODUCES A GASEOUS BYPRODUCT OXIDE ALSO REACTS WITH THE BORON TO FORM B4C. AN UNUSUAL REDUCING AGENT WHICH IS QUITE ECONOMICAL CAN REDUCE B2O3 IN THE GAS PHASE TO PRODUCE SPHERICAL BORON AND A GASEOUS BYPRODUCT OR IN THE SOLID STATE TO PRODUCE IRREGULAR SHAPE PARTICLES. THIS PROGRAM WILL INVESTIGATE PRODUCING SPHERICAL BORON FROM THE GAS PHASE IN A PLASMA REACTOR AND SPHEROIDAL BORON IN A SOLID STATE PLASAA INITIATED REACTION AT A PROJECTED PRICE OF $5/1B. OR LESS.