TiB2
TiB2 is a transition-metal diboride ceramic supplied hot-pressed (HP), HIPed, pressureless-sintered (PS) and as TiB2-BN, TiB2-AlN and TiB2-SiC composites.
Reference datasheet — TiB2 is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the HP condition
TiB2 tempers and conditions
TiB2 is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. HP is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TiB₂–AlN | Use the AlN(–BN) evaporation-boat formulation for vacuum aluminium metallising: resistive heating, resistance to molten-aluminium wetting and better thermal shock resistance than the plain boride. | 65 | 0.07 | 900 HV | 60 W/m·K | |
TiB₂–SiC | Choose the 10–30 vol % SiC particulate addition to refine grain size and raise strength and oxidation resistance for armour and high-temperature wear parts. | 350 | 0.12 | 2,800 HV | 80 W/m·K | |
TiB₂–BN | Use the hexagonal BN addition when the part must be turned and milled directly with carbide tooling — continuous-casting break rings and molten-metal sizing components. | 600 HV | 45 W/m·K | |||
Pressureless sintered TiB₂ with sintering aids | Choose pressureless sintering with aids at 95–97 % density for large or complex parts such as aluminium reduction cell cathode blocks, accepting slightly lower strength and hardness. | 2,500 HV | 70 W/m·K | |||
HPDefault Hot-pressed TiB₂, ≥98 % purity, ~99 % dense | Default fully dense grade at ≥98 % purity and about 99 % density for wear parts, wire-drawing dies, molten-aluminium contact components and electrodes. | 3,000 HV | 90 W/m·K | |||
Hot isostatic pressed | Pick hot isostatic pressing at ≥99 % purity and >99.5 % density for the highest strength and lowest porosity — armour panels and complex, highly stressed wear parts. | 3,300 HV | 100 W/m·K |
What is TiB2?
TiB2 is a transition-metal diboride ceramic supplied hot-pressed (HP), HIPed, pressureless-sintered (PS) and as TiB2-BN, TiB2-AlN and TiB2-SiC composites. It offers 550 GPa modulus, 90 W/m·K thermal conductivity and 4.5 g/cm³ density together with electrical conductivity high enough for wire and sinker EDM, which is its main processing advantage over other ultra-hard ceramics; typical forms are evaporation boats, inserts, armor tiles and wear coatings. Oxidation restricts unprotected use to about 900 °C and the material is brittle with a machinability score of 6. B4C or SiC are the alternatives when conductivity is not required. TiB2 has a density of 4.5 g/cm³ (0.163 lb/in³), lighter than 55% of ceramic grades. It melts at 3,225°C (5,837 °F). The elastic modulus is 550 GPa (79.8 Msi).
What is TiB2 used for?
- evaporation boats for metallizing
- cutting tool inserts
- armor tiles
- wear-resistant coatings
Advantages
- Stiff — 550 GPa (79.8 Msi), better than 88% of ceramic grades
- Conducts heat well — 90 W/m·K (52 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 82% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 25 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 78% of ceramic grades
TiB2 properties
Typical room-temperature values for TiB2-HP; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
TiB2 has a density of 4.5 g/cm³ (0.163 lb/in³), lighter than 55% of ceramic grades. It melts at 3,225°C (5,837 °F).
Mechanical10
The elastic modulus is 550 GPa (79.8 Msi).
Thermal5
TiB2 is rated for continuous service to 900°C (1,652 °F). It conducts heat at 90 W/m·K (52 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 82% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 6.6 µm/m·K (3.67 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
TiB2 has an electrical resistivity of 2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), worse than 59% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of TiB2 takes about 350 MJ of energy and emits 25 kg of CO₂ — more than 81% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
TiB2's machinability is not recommended (6/100, better than 61% of ceramic grades).
Common Calculations2
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the ceramic family
Yield strength against density for every ceramic grade FabDigit runs. TiB2 is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with TiB2
Is TiB2 easy to machine?
After sintering only diamond grinding and lapping apply, but the low electrical resistivity allows wire and sinker EDM — the main machining advantage of TiB₂ over other ultra-hard ceramics.
Can TiB2 be welded?
Not fusion weldable; join to metals by active brazing with Ti- or Zr-bearing fillers, or by mechanical clamping. Match thermal expansion to avoid cracking.
Can TiB2 be formed, bent or molded?
Near-net shape comes from cold isostatic pressing of powder plus pressureless sintering, or hot pressing in graphite dies at 1800–2000 °C and 20–30 MPa; HIP is used for fully dense complex parts.
TiB2 chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| Bstoichiometric TiB₂ | 30 – 31.5 | 31.1 |
| Cresidual from carbothermal synthesis | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Osurface oxide on powder | ≤ 1 | 0.4 |
| Femilling pickup | ≤ 0.2 | 0.05 |
| N | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Ti≈68.9 wt % nominal | balance |
What surface finishes work on TiB2?
Diamond lapping and polishing reach Ra < 0.1 µm. No plating or painting; SiC or oxide coatings can be added to suppress oxidation above 900 °C.
How much does TiB2 cost?
TiB2 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
TiB2 — frequently asked
What is TiB2 used for?
TiB2 is typically used for evaporation boats for metallizing, cutting tool inserts, armor tiles and wear-resistant coatings. In short: EDM-machinable ultra-hard ceramic; conductive boride wear material; high modulus at 4.5 g/cm³.
Is TiB2 easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (6/100, better than 61% of ceramic grades). After sintering only diamond grinding and lapping apply, but the low electrical resistivity allows wire and sinker EDM — the main machining advantage of TiB₂ over other ultra-hard ceramics.
Can TiB2 be welded?
Not fusion weldable; join to metals by active brazing with Ti- or Zr-bearing fillers, or by mechanical clamping. Match thermal expansion to avoid cracking.
What surface finishes work on TiB2?
Diamond lapping and polishing reach Ra < 0.1 µm. No plating or painting; SiC or oxide coatings can be added to suppress oxidation above 900 °C.
Can TiB2 be formed, bent or molded?
Near-net shape comes from cold isostatic pressing of powder plus pressureless sintering, or hot pressing in graphite dies at 1800–2000 °C and 20–30 MPa; HIP is used for fully dense complex parts.
What is the maximum service temperature of TiB2?
TiB2 is rated for continuous use to about 900°C (1,652 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does TiB2 cost?
TiB2 is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Handbook of Refractory Carbides and Nitrides / Boride property tables — Noyes/Elsevier (1996)
- Titanium Diboride (TiB₂) technical ceramic datasheet — CoorsTek (2023)
- Boride ceramics and evaporation boat materials — Kennametal / Momentive-type boat producers (2022)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.