This Special Focus eBook examines the various uses of boron and how it can power a sustainable future.
From electric vehicles to renewable energy technologies, boron has established itself as a crucial player in innovative technologies.
In the search for viable solutions to our planet’s escalating energy crisis, the scientific community is increasingly interested in exploring lesser-known elements and their potential applications.
Boron’s unique properties, such as electron-deficiency and an unoccupied p orbital, make it an intriguing subject in various fields.
What is boron?
Boron, a metalloid element with atomic number 5, exhibits unique properties that make it invaluable across various industrial, scientific, and everyday applications.
Its versatility stems from its remarkable characteristics, including high melting point, lightweight, hardness, corrosion resistance, and antimicrobial properties.
Boron can be in the form of raw materials from ores and concentrates but can also be refined into high-value speciality and advanced materials that are essential in widely used and future-facing technologies.
5E Advanced Materials, Inc., has established itself as a key player in the boron production industry. It aims to accelerate decarbonisation worldwide by becoming a vertically integrated producer of boron advanced materials.
5E is poised to supply the growing demand for boron, operating out of the company’s flagship Boron Americas Complex in Southern California, the largest known new conventional boron deposit globally, designated as Critical Infrastructure by the US Government.
Innovative uses of boron
Boron’s unique properties hold untapped potential for various innovations, promoting a recent surge of interest in this fascinating element.
From synthesising energy-rich small molecules to its burgeoning role in light-emitting diodes and photovoltaic applications, boron’s multifaceted implications for renewable energy technologies are being explored.
Furthermore, boron is also redefining the production trajectory of electric vehicles due to its exceptional thermal conductivity, high dielectric strength, and notable lubricity.
In the defence industry, boron is used to protect vehicles and enhance the mobility of body armour due to its superior hard structure and low density.
Topics covered in this eBook
The eBook begins by highlighting the importance of boron in sustainable energy technologies in the midst of our search for viable solutions to Earth’s energy crisis.
Then, 5E’s Advanced Materials’ mining operations are discussed, revealing how the company has discovered lithium presence and boric acid at its flagship Boron Americas Complex.
The full extent of boron’s impact on the EV industry remains a subject of interest as stakeholders continue to investigate its potential in optimising safety, performance, efficiency, and longevity in sustainable transportation. The next article explores how boron will shape the future of electric vehicles.
The penultimate article details the use of boron in defence applications, highlighting its ballistic resistance, multi-hit capability, improved mobility in body armour, and the significant enhancement of vehicle armour protection.
Finally, 5E Advanced Materials provides a detailed overview of investment opportunities in the boron industry – emphasising how long-term investment will show growth across many important industries.
