[12] At 2000 K, the formation of ZrB2 via stoichiometric reaction is thermodynamically favorable (ΔG=−279.6 kJ mol−1) and therefore, this route can be used to produce ZrB2 by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS).

Advantages of SHS include higher purity of ceramic products, increased sinterability, and shorter processing times.

Stoichiometric reactions have also been carried out by reaction of attrition milled (wearing materials by grinding) Zr and B powder (and then hot pressing at 600 °C for 6 h), and nanoscale particles have been obtained by reacting attrition milled Zr and B precursor crystallites (10 nm in size).

Inexpensive precursor materials are used and reacted according to the reaction below: Mg is used as a reactant to allow for acid leaching of unwanted oxide products.

[14] A second SHS reaction with Mg and H3BO3 as reactants along with the ZrB2/ZrO2 mixture yields increased conversion to the diboride, and particle sizes of 25–40 nm at 800 °C.

Precursor or powder particles react with plasma at high temperatures (6000–15000 °C) which greatly reduces the reaction time.

These coating materials exhibit uniform distribution of fine particles and porous microstructures, which increased hydrogen flow rates.

Nanocrystals of ZrB2were successfully synthesized by Zoli's reaction, a reduction of ZrO2 with NaBH4 using a molar ratio M:B of 1:4 at 700 °C for 30 min under argon flow.

Hydrogen gas is used to reduce vapors of zirconium tetrachloride and boron trichloride at substrate temperatures greater than 800 °C.

[23] Zirconium diboride is also investigated as a possible material for nuclear reactor control rods due to the presence of boron.

He is formed as a transmutation product of boron-10—it is the alpha particle in the above reaction—and will rapidly migrate through the lattice between the layers of zirconium and boron, however not in the 'z' direction.

[23] Direct absorption solar collector are being considered of great interest in combination with colloidal systems dispersed in suitable liquids.

The obtained fluids are able to carry out, at the same time, the double function of volumetric solar absorbers and heat transfer media.