Tungsten Boride

Tungsten is a Block D, Group 6, Period 6 element. The number of electrons in each of Tungsten's shells is 2, 8, 18, 32, 12, 2 and its electronic configuration is [Xe] 4f¹⁴ 5d⁴ 6s². In its elemental form tungsten's CAS number is 7440-33-7. The tungsten atom has a radius of 137.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is 200.pm. Tungsten is considered to be only mildly toxic. Tungsten has the highest melting point of all the metallic elements and because of this has its first significant commercial application as the filament in incandescent light bulbs and fluorescent light bulbs. Tungsten is available as metal and compounds with purities from 99% to 99.999% (ACS grade to ultra-high purity); metals in the form of foil, sputtering target, and rod, and compounds as submicron and nanopowder. Later it was used in the first television tubes. The first imaging equipment involved X-ray bombardment of a tungsten target. Tungsten expands at nearly the same rate as borosilicate glass and is used to make metal to glass seals. It is the primary metal in heating elements for electric furnaces and in any components where high pressure/temperature environments are expected, such as aerospace and engine systems. Tungsten was first discovered by Fausto and Juan Jose de Elhuyar in 1783. In reference to its density, Tungsten gets its name from the swedish words tung and sten meaning heavy stone. See Tungsten research below.

Boron is a Block P, Group 13, Period 2 element. The number of electrons in each of Boron's shells is 2, 3 and its electronic configuration is [He] 2s² 2p¹. In its elemental form boron's CAS number is 7440-42-8. The boron atom has a radius of 79.5.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is 200.pm. Boron has an energy band gap of 1.50 to 1.56 eV, which is higher than that of either silicon or germanium. Optical characteristics include transmitting portions of the infrared. Boron is a poor conductor of electricity at room temperature but a good conductor at high temperature. Boron in its elemental form is not toxic. Amorphous boron is used in pyrotechnic flares to provide a distinctive green color, and in rockets as an igniter Boric acid is also an important boron compound with major markets in textile products. Boron compounds are also extensively used in the manufacture of borosilicate glasses. The isotope Boron-10 is used as a control for nuclear reactors, as a shield for nuclear radiation, and in instruments used for detecting neutrons. Boron nitride has remarkable properties and can be used to make a material as hard as diamond. The nitride also behaves like an electrical insulator but conducts heat like a metal. Boron also has lubricating properties similar to graphite. Boron was first discovered by Sir Humphry Davy and J.L Gay-Lussac in 1808. The name Boron originates from a combination of carbon and the Arabic word 'buraqu meaning borax. See Boron research below.