How much do you know about the properties and applications of boron carbide?

Overview of boron carbide

Boron carbide (chemical formula approximately B4C) is an extremely hard boron–carbon ceramic and covalent material used in tank armor, bulletproof vests, engine sabotage powders, as well as numerous industrial applications. With a Vickers hardness of >30 GPa, it is one of the hardest known materials, behind cubic boron nitride and diamond.

It was discovered in the 19th century as a by-product of the study of metal borides and was not scientifically studied until the 1930s. Boron carbide can be prepared by reducing boron trioxide with carbon in an electric furnace.

Because of its low density, high strength, high temperature stability and good chemical stability. It is used in wear-resistant materials, ceramic reinforcement, especially in light armor, reactor neutron absorber and so on. In addition, compared with diamond and cubic boron nitride, boron carbide is easy to manufacture and low cost, so it is more widely used. In some places, it can replace expensive diamond and is commonly used in grinding, grinding and drilling.

Applications of Boron Carbide B4C Boride Powder

Used in steel modification component with high boron content, grinding, lapping, polishing, hot pressing and sintering of hard and abrasion resistant parts with light weight, metallurgical refractories with high corrosion and oxygen resistance, moderators, blast nozzles, and nuclear technology reactor control rods.

Also used in Padlocks, Personal and vehicle anti-ballistic armor plating, Grit blasting nozzles, High-pressure water jet cutter nozzles, Scratch and wear resistant coatings, Cutting tools and dies, Abrasives, Neutron absorber in nuclear reactors, Metal matrix composites.

Fine and advanced abrasive materials

Because of the high grinding efficiency of boron carbide, it is mainly used as a grinding medium in the grinding process of materials, such as: grinding, grinding, drilling and polishing of hard materials such as gems, ceramics, knives, bearings, and cemented carbides.
 Industrial ceramic materials
Products made of boron carbide powder: sandblasting nozzles, sealing rings, nozzles, bearings, plungers of mud pumps, pestles and rocket launchers, ceramic coatings for warships, helicopters, etc., as a new type of material. It has the characteristics of high melting point, high hardness, high elastic modulus, strong wear resistance, and good self-lubricating properties and is widely used in sandblasting machinery, electronics, information, aerospace, automobile and other industries.
 Shielding and control materials for the nuclear industry
Boron carbide material has a large thermal neutron capture section, excellent neutron absorption and radiation resistance, and is internationally recognized and recommended as a nuclear reactor control material and shielding material.
 Bulletproof armor
Due to its high strength and small specific gravity, it is especially suitable for use in lightweight bulletproof armor, such as the protection of aircraft, vehicles, ships and human bodies.
 Improve the life of mechanical parts
Combine boron carbide powder with metal to produce metal-based alloy powder. After special surface treatment of this material, the original mechanical parts are more resistant to wear and corrosion resistance to acid and alkali.
 Special absorber provides energy
Boron carbide, also known as "black gold", is used as a power source in powder form as a solid fuel for the rocket.
 Chemical industry additives
Due to its stable chemical properties, boron carbide does not react with acid and alkali solutions and has a high chemical potential, so it is widely used in the production of other boron-containing materials, such as zirconium boride and titanium boride.
 Boron Carbide Price

Boron carbide price will vary randomly with the production cost, transportation cost, international situation, exchange rate, and market supply and demand of boron carbide. Tanki New Materials Co.,Ltd Aims to help All industries and Chemical Wholesalers to find high quality, cheap price Nanomaterials and chemicals by providing turn-key customize manufacturing services. If you are looking for boron carbide, please feel free to send an inquiry for the latest price of boron carbide.

 Boron Carbide Supplier

As a global boron carbide supplier, Tanki New Materials Co.,Ltd has rich experiences in the properties, applications, and cost-effective manufacturing of advanced and engineered materials. The company has successfully developed a series of powder materials (including oxides, carbides, nitrides, single metal, etc.), high-purity targets, functional ceramics, and structural devices, OEM service is available.