Boron carbide

Details:

Boron carbide

It is a hard, refractory inorganic compound composed of boron and carbon. It is widely recognized for its exceptional properties and diverse industrial applications.

Appearance: Typically exists as a grayish-black powder or solid with a metallic luster.

Hardness: One of the hardest known materials (second only to diamond and cubic boron nitride), with a Mohs hardness of ~9.3.

Applications

Abrasive and Grinding Materials
Due to its extreme hardness, boron carbide is used to manufacture grinding wheels, sandpapers, and cutting tools for polishing or shaping hard materials like metals, ceramics, and gemstones. It is also used in lapping pastes for precision surface finishing.

Protective Armor
Its high hardness, low density, and excellent impact resistance make it ideal for lightweight armor systems. It is used in bulletproof vests, vehicle armor, and shields to withstand high-velocity projectiles.

Nuclear Industry
Boron carbide is a critical neutron absorber due to the high neutron-capture cross-section of boron-10 isotopes. It is used in control rods for nuclear reactors to regulate fission reactions and in radiation shielding materials.

Refractories and High-Temperature Components
Its high melting point and thermal stability make it suitable for refractory linings in furnaces, as well as components in high-temperature equipment (e.g., nozzles for molten metal casting).

Ceramic Composites
It is often mixed with other materials (e.g., aluminum, titanium) to form composite ceramics, enhancing their strength and wear resistance for applications in aerospace, automotive, and machinery parts.

Other Uses

As a deoxidizing agent in metal smelting.

In the production of boron alloys (e.g., with iron or aluminum).

As a neutron detector in radiation monitoring devices.