The reaction of melamine (C3N6H6) with boric acid (H3BO3) by a wet chemical approach afforded precursor, hexagonal boron nitride was then prepared by the heat treatment of the precursor in the air. An investigation of the effects of melamine to boron acid molar ratio, solution concentration, synthesis temperature and time on the synthesis process of boron nitride has been carried out. The FT-IR, XRD, SEM and elemental analyses revealed that the precursor was identified as a supra-molecular adduct formed by intermolecular hydrogen bond, and the morphology of precursor exhibits rod-like crystals and its molecular formula is C3N6H6 • 2H3BO3. Moreover, the better precursor crystals were synthesized by using the molar ratio of 1 : 2 for melamine and boric acid. The rod-like precursor was treated at 800 oC-1000 oC for 3 h-6 h in the air to afford products which were characterized by XRD, SEM and particle size analyses. The results indicated that the rod-like precursor was treated at 950 oC for 6 h to afford good crystals of h-BN powder with a primary particle size of 15 μm.

Keywords: Hexagonal Boron Nitride, Melamine, Fabrication, Characterization, Precursor.