Non-Metals

Tripoli powder is a rose or cream-colored, free-flowing non-metallic odorless powder insoluble in water. Tripoli, whose chemical name is silicon dioxide, is a highly porous lightweight material that can easily be cut with a fingernail and crumbled into a fine powder between the fingertips; however, the individual grains (usually 0.01 millimeters or more refined) are so strong they will scratch steel.

Boron carbide, or "black diamond", is an extremely hard ceramic material that is a black crystal with a metallic luster. It has physical properties, including hardness, that rank only second to diamond. It is a high-performance abrasive material that is chemically resistant. It has a melting point of 2350ºC high thermal neutron capture capability, is wear-resisting, and has semiconducting properties.

Buckypaper is a macroscopic aggregate of thin sheets of aggregated carbon nanotubes. It is one-tenth the weight of steel, but up to 500 times stronger, with the ability to conduct electricity and disperse heat. Buckypaper has low optical reflectivity and thermal conductivity.

Carbon is a pure non-metallic element found only in the forms of diamonds and graphite. Graphite is widely used for many applications because of its unique combination of properties. It is slippery to the touch, a good conductor of electricity and heat, is chemically inert, and can withstand high temperatures and corrosive environments. 99% to 99.99% (metals basis)

Carbon nanotubes (CNT) are tubes made of carbon atoms with nanometer diameters. Reade supplies a variety of carbon nanotubes. While many specific properties of CNTs are type dependent, in general, carbon nanotubes have high electrical conductivity. They have good thermal conductivity along the tube axis that is comparable to diamonds while exhibiting elastic, flexible, stiff, tough, and strong fibers while maintaining the chemistry of carbon molecules and being free of molecular defects. This carbon chemistry allows strong Van der Waals attraction which leads to spontaneous self-assembly and roping of many nanotubes, which may be important in certain applications. Single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT) are an intermediary allotrope of carbon between fullerene cages and flat graphene. Double-wall carbon nanotubes (DWNT) are similar to SWNT but are more resistant to chemical attacks. Multi-wall carbon nanotubes consist of multiple rolled layers of graphene. Dry powder form and dispersions available.

Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN) is second only to diamond in hardness. It has superior thermal and chemical stability making it ideal for high-temperature applications. Because of its unique hardness and toughness, CBN has great advantages for grinding and sawing end-uses. CBN is available in 99% purity and is optimized for resin-bond, metal-bond, vitrified bonds, and electroplated products.

Diamond Dust is composed of pure carbon. Diamond powder is a super-abrasive and is offered in two categories: synthetically grown and naturally grown. Naturally mined diamond purity is 99+%. Synthetic diamond purity is 99%.

Graphene Nanoplatelets are nanoparticles made from graphite that can substitute carbon fiber, carbon nanotubes, nano-clays, or other compounds in many composite applications. These nanoparticles consist of small stacks of graphene (3-10 nanometers) that are safer than carbon nano-fibers and nano-tubes and improve reliability, thermal conductivity, and electrical conductivity while reducing porosity when added to plastics or resins. Graphene Nanoplatelets help products built on them exhibit improved tribology, mechanical, biomedical, gas barrier, flame retardant, and heat convection properties. They can be used with other additives to enhance cost and material efficiency.

Graphene oxide, also known as graphite oxide, is a compound of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen in variable ratios that is obtained by treating graphite with strong oxidizers. Graphene oxide has many unique properties, including a two-dimensional planar structure, large surface area, chemical and mechanical stability, superb conductivity, and good biocompatibility. It is an insulator and can almost be considered a semiconductor. Purity: 97% - 99% Graphene Oxide Safety Notice: Before using, the user shall determine the product's suitability for its intended use, and the user assumes all risk and liability whatsoever in addition to that.

Hexagonal boron nitride is an inorganic compound that’s chemistry enables it to form structures that are isoelectronic with carbon allotropes, including a flat, hexagonal crystal structure similar to graphite. It is a white powder that is very hard and chemically and thermally stable.

Talc, or Hydrous Magnesium Silicate (3MgO.4SIO₂.H₂O), is a very fine, translucent to opaque, soft mineral with a white to grayish-white color. It is inert, odorless, and insoluble in water. Powder granulations available between 37 microns to 1.5 microns

Graphite is a soft dark grey solid of crystallized carbon. Graphite is a good conductor of heat and electricity, and due to the atomic arrangement into easily cleaved layers, graphite is used as a solid lubricant. It is odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, and chemically inert to acids and alkalis under most conditions. Many different standard granulations are available between 5 mesh USS and 0.7 microns

Red phosphorus is a stable, amorphous, non-toxic solid characterized by its deep red color and powdery texture. It is a chain of P₄ molecules. Red phosphorus does not show phosphorescence and is less chemically reactive than white phosphorus. Red phosphorus does not ignite spontaneously but may be ignited by friction, static electricity, heating, or oxidizing agents. Purity: 99.99%

Silica Gel is an amorphous and porous form of silicon dioxide. It is a rigid 3D network of colloidal silica whose voids may contain liquid or gas. Silica gel is classified as aquagel (pores are filled with water), xerogel (by evaporation, the aqueous phase in the pores is removed), and aerogel (solvent removed by supercritical extraction).

Silica, SiO₂, is non-combustible, odorless, and colorless (or white) in crystal form. High-purity silica sand is a major industrial commodity since it is almost entirely composed of silica. Silica sand products are marketed in various grades, including extremely fine flours. Note: Silicon dioxide is inert and harmless in most cases; however, inhaling finely divided silica dust over time can lead to respiratory ailments and a reduction of lung capacities. Particle sizes for Fine Ground are 5 to 40-micron Particle sizes for Precision Ground are 45-250 microns. Other particle sizes are available upon request.

Silicon Nitride (Si₃N₄) is a white to slightly beige powder that has a high melting point and good chemical stability. It is thermodynamically stable, which makes it commercially important. It has a high melting point. It shows high thermal shock resistance, high strength through a wide temperature range, high fracture toughness, high hardness, and outstanding wear resistance to abrasion and corrosion. It has a smaller thermal expansion coefficient and shows small shrinkage by reheating.

Single crystal diamond is a manufactured product for industrial applications and produced by a high pressure/high temperature (HPHT) synthesis process and tightly controlled crystal growth conditions. Repeatable physical characteristics and dimensional consistency are the notable features of a synthetic single-crystal diamond. Diamond excels in its electronic properties and has high thermal conductivity and chemical stability.

Sulfur (S) is an element with several allotropes, the most common, S₈, appears as a yellow, odorless, and brittle crystalline solid at room temperature. It is not reflective, has a relatively low melting point, and is a good electrical insulator. Sulfur is so widely used in industrial processes that its consumption often is regarded as a reliable indicator of industrial activity. Purity: 85% - 99.9%

Wurtzite Boron Nitride (w-BN) is a thermally and chemically resistant hard ceramic refractory compound with a hardness greater than diamond. It has a polycrystalline structure that provides superior cutting properties and sharpens itself during cutting. It also is isoelectronic with its diamond carbon allotropes. Wurtzite Boron Nitride can be produced in two different particle shapes: plate and regular crystal.

Xenon difluoride is a dense white crystalline solid that is a powerful fluorinating and oxidizing agent. It is a stable xenon compound; however, it is moisture sensitive and decomposes on contact with light or water vapor. It has a nauseating odor but low vapor pressure. Purity 99.5% min.