Abstract: Boron nitride (BN) whiskers were prepared successfully by calcining the whisker precursors, which were synthesized via the reaction of melamine (C3N6H6) with boric acid (H3BO3) in a water-bath. SEM shows the as-prepared BN whiskers is needle structure with diameter 2-3 μm and aspect ratio 40-100. Hexagonal phase with lattice parameters a=0.2524 nm and c=0.6592 nm is shown with XRD. FT-IR has strong B-N absorption bands at 1383 cm-1 and 812 cm-1. The influence of calcining temperature and decarbonization temperature on the morphology and property of the BN whiskers were investigated. The optimal calcining and decarbonization temperature to prepare BN whiskers with better morphology and crystallinity were 1700 ℃ and 600 ℃, respectively.

Key words: Boron nitride (BN) whiskers were prepared successfully by calcining the whisker precursors, which were synthesized via the reaction of melamine (C3N6H6) with boric acid (H3BO3) in a water-bath. SEM shows the as-prepared BN whiskers is needle structure with diameter 2-3 μm and aspect ratio 40-100. Hexagonal phase with lattice parameters a=0.2524 nm and c=0.6592 nm is shown with XRD. FT-IR has strong B-N absorption bands at 1383 cm-1 and 812 cm-1. The influence of calcining temperature and decarbonization temperature on the morphology and property of the BN whiskers were investigated. The optimal calcining and decarbonization temperature to prepare BN whiskers with better morphology and crystallinity were 1700 ℃ and 600 ℃, respectively.