Preparation of cobalt borides by solid-gas reactions.

The reaction of Co with gaseous BBr3 in a temperature range of 700 to 1000 °C was studied using the hot-wire method with an experimental set-up reminiscent of the van Arkel-de Boer method. The borides Co2B und CoB form as layers on the surface of elemental cobalt. The influence of pressure, temperature and time on the reaction rate and on the composition of the borides was investigated. The reaction rate is significantly decreased by small amounts of an inert gas. The adjustment of reaction conditions allows to obtain single-phase and well-crystallized bulk materials of Co2B or CoB.