Patent Title: Non-Catalytic Sol-Gel Method for Production of Boron Carbide Nanofiber
IP Status: Patent application; protection coverage in Türkiye
Technology Area: Boron Carbide / Nanofibers / Advanced Ceramics / Radiation Shielding Materials
TRL: TRL 4
This non-catalytic sol-gel technology enables the production of boron carbide nanofibers with controlled one-dimensional morphology, high crystallinity and reduced processing temperature. The resulting lightweight B₄C nanostructures provide a promising material platform for flexible and wearable radiation shielding as well as aerospace, space, nuclear and defence applications.
Technology Overview
The technology provides a sol-gel route for producing boron carbide (B₄C) nanofibers without the use of metallic catalysts. The process begins with a mixture containing carboxylic acid, glycerol and elemental boron nanoparticles. Following gel formation, the material undergoes controlled pyrolysis and subsequent high-temperature treatment to form boron carbide nanofibers.
A key technical distinction is the ability to produce elongated, one-dimensional boron carbide structures without catalysts such as cobalt or nickel. Eliminating metallic catalysts also avoids the need for subsequent acid washing or similar purification processes used to remove catalyst residues. This reduces the risk of catalyst-derived impurities while avoiding additional chemical treatment that may affect the boron carbide itself.
Control of precursor composition and thermal-processing conditions enables the morphology of boron carbide to be directed away from conventional equiaxed particles towards thin, elongated nano- and micro-fibrous structures. This ability to control morphology, composition and crystallinity provides an important material-design advantage for advanced composites and functional protective systems.
The final thermal treatment can be conducted at approximately 1450–1550 °C. Compared with high-temperature boron carbide production routes operating at temperatures around 2500 °C, this can reduce the required processing temperature by up to approximately 1000 °C. Combined with the elimination of catalyst-removal steps, the process offers potential reductions in energy demand, chemical use and process complexity.
The nanofiber morphology is particularly relevant to the development of lightweight and flexible radiation-shielding composites. Boron carbide combines relatively low density with a high boron content, while the fibrous morphology creates opportunities for integration into polymeric, composite and textile-type structures suitable for wearable or geometrically flexible shielding systems.
Problem / Market Need
Radiation shielding systems frequently rely on lead and other high-density, heavy-metal-based materials. Their weight can represent a significant design limitation in applications such as personal protective equipment, aircraft and spacecraft, where mass and mobility are critical. Heavy-metal-based systems may also introduce additional requirements related to material handling, processing and end-of-life management.
Boron carbide provides an alternative material platform for developing lower-density radiation-shielding composites. The ability to manufacture B₄C in controlled fibrous forms is particularly relevant where the shielding material must be incorporated into flexible composites, wearable equipment or structures with complex geometries.
The technology also addresses manufacturing challenges associated with boron carbide nanostructures, including high processing temperatures, metallic catalyst use and post-production purification. Its non-catalytic sol-gel approach provides an alternative production route while maintaining control over the morphology of the resulting B₄C structures.
Key Advantages
- One-dimensional boron carbide nanofiber production without metallic catalysts
- Final heat treatment at approximately 1450–1550 °C, enabling lower processing temperatures
- Avoidance of catalyst-derived impurities
- No requirement for acid washing or similar catalyst-removal processes
- Control over nanofiber size, morphology, composition and crystallinity
- Material architecture suitable for lightweight and flexible radiation-shielding composites
- Potential integration into polymeric and textile-based protective systems
- Potential reduction in energy demand, chemical use and process complexity
Applications
- Lightweight and flexible radiation-shielding materials
- Personal radiation-protection equipment
- Protective garments for pilots and astronauts
- Radiation protection for satellites and space systems
- Protective materials for nuclear facilities and nuclear technologies
- Radiation-shielded electronic equipment and enclosures
- Advanced composites for aerospace and defence applications
- Boron-carbide-based functional textiles and fibre-reinforced composites
Relevant Industries
- Aerospace and Space
- Nuclear Technologies
- Defence
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Advanced Ceramics
- Nanomaterials
- Technical Textiles
- Advanced Composite Materials
Technology Readiness Level & Validation
Technology Readiness Level: TRL 4
The boron carbide nanofiber production process has been demonstrated under laboratory conditions, and testing supporting TRL 4 has been completed. Development work is continuing towards higher technology-readiness levels.
For radiation-shielding applications, a fabric-format trial sample approximately the size of an A4 sheet, around 210 × 297 mm, has been produced. Laboratory testing showed approximately 80% absorption of the radiation source using material with a thickness of 2 microns. This result relates to the specific laboratory conditions used, and no direct performance comparison with lead or other commercial shielding materials has been established.
The current work demonstrates the potential for integrating the nanofibers into lightweight and flexible protective systems. Future development may include forms that can be directly woven or integrated into textile structures in a manner comparable to carbon-fibre fabrics.
The technology has been developed within a TÜBİTAK-supported research activity.
Intellectual Property
International Patent Publication: WO2022144085A1
International Application No.: PCT/EP2020/088063
Patent Title: Non-Catalytic Sol-Gel Method for Production of Boron Carbide Nanofiber
Filing Date: 30 December 2020
Publication Date: 7 July 2022
Applicants: Sabancı University and Yıldız Technical University
Protection Coverage: Türkiye
Commercialisation Status
The technology is currently at the prototype-development stage and is available for licensing. Ongoing development focuses on advancing the production process towards higher technology-readiness levels and further developing performance in target applications, particularly radiation shielding.
Collaboration Opportunities
- Licensing
- Scientific consultancy
- Joint R&D and co-development
- Industrial validation and pilot testing
- Investment and commercial partnership
- Partnership in Horizon Europe and other international R&D projects
Potential partners may include radiation-shielding material manufacturers, technical-textile and personal-protective-equipment producers, advanced ceramic and composite companies, aerospace and space organisations, nuclear-technology companies and defence-industry manufacturers.
Promising areas for joint development include scalable integration of the nanofibers into textile or polymer matrices, validation of radiation-shielding performance under application-relevant conditions, and development of pilot-scale manufacturing processes.
Inventors
Inventors: Cengiz Kaya, Figen Kaya
Contact
For licensing, industrial validation, joint R&D or other collaboration opportunities related to this technology, please contact Sabancı University Technology Transfer Office (SUATT) at dpe.suatt@sabanciuniv.edu.