  A new method of producing boron phosphide (BP) submicron powders by
self-propagating high-temperature reaction between boron phosphate and
magnesium in the presence of an inert diluent (sodium chloride) has been
proposed. Bulk polycrystalline BP with microhardness of HV = 28(2) GPa has been
prepared by sintering the above powders at 7.7 GPa and 2600 K.
