Introduction to the Wide Applications of Boron Carbide B4C

January 14, 2020
Kumthai Abrasives Co., Ltd. | Synthetic Diamond Abrasive Powder

Introduction to the Wide Applications of Boron Carbide B4C
 
Boron Carbide, molecular formula B4C, is one of the three hardest materials known (the other two are diamond and CBN cubic boron nitride) and commonly used in tank armor, bulletproof clothing, and many industrial products.
 
Boron Carbide can absorb large amounts of neutrons without forming any radioactive isotopes, so it's an ideal neutron absorber for nuclear power plants, and can be used to control the rate of nuclear fission. Boron Carbide is mainly made as a controlled rod in a nuclear reactor field, but sometimes it is made into the powder to increase the surface area. It has many advantages including low density, high strength, high temperature stability and good chemical stability, widely used in wear resistant parts, ceramic reinforcement, especially in light armor, reactor neutron absorbers, etc.
 
In addition, boron carbide is easier to manufacture and less costly than diamonds and cubic boron nitride(CBN), so it can be used more widely. It can replace expensive diamonds in some applications and is commonly used in grinding, lapping, drilling, etc.
 
Control Nuclear Fission
Boron carbide can absorb large amounts of neutrons without forming any radioactive isotopes, which makes it an ideal neutron absorber for nuclear power plants, and neutron absorbers are mainly used to control the rate of nuclear fission. Boron Carbide is mainly made as a controlled rod in a nuclear reactor field, but sometimes it is made into the powder to increase the surface area. At Chernobyl nuclear accident in 1986, Russia eventually stopped the chain reaction in the reactor after dropping nearly 2,000 tons of boron carbide and sand.
 
Grinding Materials
Boron carbide has been used as a coarse abrasive material long before. Due to its high melting point, it is not easy to cast into artifacts, but it can be processed into simple shapes by melting the powder at high temperatures. So it is often used for grinding, lapping, drilling and polishing hard materials such as hard alloy, gem and so on.
 
Coating
Boron carbide can also be used as a ceramic coating for warships and helicopters, which is lightweight and has the ability to resist armor-piercing bullets penetrating the thermal coating to form a monolithic shield.
 
Nozzle
It can be used to manufacture gun nozzles in the arms industry. Boron carbide, extremely hard and wear-resistant, no reaction with acid-base, high/low temperature resistance, high pressure resistance, crystal system: hexagonal, density: 2.52g/cm3, Mohs hardness: 9.36, microhardness 5400-6300kg/mm2, bending strength ≥400Mpa, melting point: 2450℃. Because it has the characteristics of wear resistance and high hardness, Boron Carbide Sandblasting Nozzle will gradually replace the known carbide/tungsten steel and silicon carbide, silicon nitride, alumina, zirconia and other materials sandblasting nozzle. Kumthai not only supplies high hardness Boron Carbide Powder, but also offers customized high purity and longer service life Boron Carbide Nozzles, welcome to send the drawings for the prices.
 
Other Applications
Boron carbide is also used in the manufacture of metal borides and in the smelting of sodium boron, boron alloys, special welding and so on.