Barium hexaboride

Barium hexaboride is a hard material with a high melting point.^[1] It can be formed by passing a barium vapour at >750 °C over boron crystals:

Ba + 6B → BaB₆

Barium hexaboride

Names
IUPAC name Barium boride
Other names Barium hexaboride
Identifiers
CAS Number	12046-08-1
ECHA InfoCard	100.031.774
PubChem CID	6336903
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID501014267
InChI InChI=1S/6B.Ba Key: DBNPLCUZNLSUCT-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Properties
Chemical formula	BaB6
Molar mass	202.193 g/mol
Appearance	Black, cubic substance
Density	4.36 g/cm3
Melting point	2,270 °C (4,120 °F; 2,540 K)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

However, it can also be formed by reacting barium chloride with boron in two stages: firstly at 900 °C for 30 minutes and then at 1,500 °C for 60 minutes.

Potential applications

Barium hexaboride has been considered as a candidate for use in hot-cathode electron guns.