Boron trichloride is a non-flammable gas used in microchip manufacturing to dope semiconductor grade silicon. It is also used in metal refining, plasma etching, and has potential uses in rocket fuel production and pharmaceutical manufacturing. It presents health risks if exposed to moisture, but is used in research involving nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Boron trichloride (BCL3) is a colorless, toxic, but non-flammable gas commonly used in the microchip manufacturing industry through ion implantation to dope semiconductor grade silicon (SGS). SGS starts as a pure insulator and becomes a p-type semiconductor upon the addition of boron atoms to the silicon substrate. Another name for boron trichloride in manufacturing is trichloroborane, and it is a key component of an estimated $200 million US Dollar (USD) as of 2002 US gas industry that is rapidly growing and serves the semiconductor market.
Other industrial applications for boron trichloride include the refining of many metals, such as aluminum, magnesium and zinc. It is also compatible with some plastics such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used in plumbing and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) used in the manufacture of non-stick cookware surfaces. The compound is also used as a chemical in the plasma etching of metals, such as stainless steel, copper alloys and tungsten.
Emerging markets for the compound include rocket fuel production and as a catalyst in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Boron itself has antibacterial qualities, and since 2006, boron trichloride has been seen as a potential key ingredient in the manufacture of treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. The fibers were made from boron nitride compounds using boron trichloride, which are made into aircraft reinforcing fabric such as the structural beam components in the US B-1 bomber military aircraft. These fibers are further adapted to composite structures in high-performance automobiles and uses for optical data transmission.
Because boron trichloride hydrolyzes upon exposure to moisture in the air or contact with water, it presents health risks if not properly sealed in shipping containers. Any exposure to moisture in the container will cause a buildup of hydrochloric acid gas and lead to an explosion and contamination of the surrounding air. The chemical has exposure risks when it combines with moisture to form hydrochloric acid, a caustic form of hydrochloric acid harmful to lungs, mucous membranes and skin, so it is shipped in liquid form and handled with caution.
Conversely, boron trichloride has potential health benefits. It is used in research involving nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, a field of study in structural biology. This is because BCL3 is a starting or precursor chemical used to create elemental boron. One of the two naturally occurring isotopes of boron, boron-10, has a unique ability to capture low-energy neutrons. Both boron-10 and boron-11 are essential isotopes of the element used in the NMR process.
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