Barium Boride, BaB₆

Barium Boride, BaB₆, is obtained by heating together, in the electric furnace, barium borate, aluminium, and carbon. It is more readily prepared than strontium and calcium borides, the yields being larger and of greater purity. Its density is 4.36 at 15° C., and in hardness it lies between diamond and ruby or quartz. Its chemical properties are similar to those of calcium and strontium borides. By the action of calcium on barium borate a mixture of the two borides is always obtained.