Aluminium dodecaboride

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IUPACName = aluminium dodecaboride
OtherNames = aluminium boride
Section1 = Chembox Identifiers
CASNo = 12041-54-2
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Section2 = Chembox Properties
Formula = AlB₁₂
MolarMass = g/mol
Appearance = black solid
Density = g/cm³
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Solubility = Insoluble in water
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Aluminium dodecaboride (AlB₁₂) is a chemical compound made from the metal aluminium and the non-metal boron. It is one of two chemical compounds that are commonly called aluminium boride, the other is aluminium diboride, AlB₂.
There are two crystalline forms, α-AlB₁₂, and γ-AlB₁₂. Both forms are very similar and consist of a framework with three-dimensional networks of B₁₂ and B₂₀ units. [ "Crystal chemistry of α-AlB₁₂ and γ-AlB₁₂.", Higashi, Iwami; Journal of solid state chemistry 2000, vol. 154, no 1, 168-176,doi|10.1006/jssc.2000.8831 ] The phase β-AlB₁₂ is now believed to be the ternary boride C₂Al₃B₄₈. [ "Phases and twinning in C₂Al₃B₄₈ (β-AlB₁₂)", Matkovich V. I. , Giese R. F. ; Economy J. Z. Krist. 122, 108-15. (1965)]

AlB₁₂ is used as a grinding compound to replace diamond or corundum.

ee also

boride

External links

* [http://nautilus.fis.uc.pt/st2.5/scenes-e/elem/e00530.html "Boron"] ;
* [http://www.istc.ru/istc/sc.nsf/news/science-news-lightness-and-hardness.htm "Lightness and hardness"]

Footnotes