Cerium Hexaboride Rod, CeB6 Rod

Cerium hexaboride (CeB6) rod is a type of ceramic rod made from a rare earth metal cerium and boron. It has a unique combination of properties such as high melting point, high thermal conductivity, high electrical conductivity, and low work function. These properties make CeB6 rod a suitable material for various applications such as cathode ray tubes, electron microscopy, and high-temperature thermionic energy conversion devices. CeB6 rod is made using a powder metallurgy technique where the powdered cerium hexaboride is first pressed into a desired shape and then sintered at a high temperature to form a solid ceramic rod. The final product has a high density, fine-grained microstructure, and excellent mechanical properties. CeB6 rods are commonly used in electron microscopy applications as a cathode filament due to their high electron emission capabilities. They are also used in thermionic energy conversion devices where they act as a thermionic emitter due to their low work function.