What is Boron carbide

Boron carburide is a high-performance carbon compound, which consists mainly of boron, carbon, and other elements. The chemical formula for B4C is B4C. It has high heat transfer and melting point. It’s widely used by industries, the military, aerospace and other fields. This article will give a detailed description of the physical properties and chemical composition, the preparation methods, performance characterisation and application fields.

Physical Properties

Boron carbide, a non-metallic inorganic material, has a mass density of 2.52g/cm3. It has a cubic lattice structure, a dense black crystal and a 0.243nm lattice constant. Boron carbide exhibits a low electrical conductivity of only 10-6S/m, and has excellent insulation. Its thermal conductivity (97W/m*K) is lower than metals, silicon and ceramics but higher than glass and other materials.

Chemical properties

Boron carbide exhibits chemical stability, and it is not reactive to acids or alkalis. B4C is reactive with O2, H2O and other substances. High temperatures can generate B2O3, CO etc. B4C has anti-oxidant and corrosion resistance. This makes it suitable for long term use in high-temperature, corrosive environments.

Preparation method

Preparation methods for boron carbide The main methods are the carbon thermal decomposition method, arc melting and chemical vapour deposit method.

Methode de réduction du carbothermal

The carbon thermal method is widely used to prepare boron carbide . This method generates carbon dioxide and boron carburide by melting boric black and carbon. The reaction formula is B2O3+3C + B4C+CO. The reaction temperature ranges from 1500 to 1700°C. The method has the advantage of being simple, low-cost, and easy to use. However, the boron carbide produced is not of high purity.

Arc melting method

In the arc melting process, graphite electrodes are heated and melted in an arc with boric acid to create boron carbide. The reaction formula is B2O3+3C = B4C. The reaction temperature ranges between 18002000 degrees. This method yields boron-carbide with high purity, fine particle size and a complex, expensive process.

Chemical vapour deposition method

Chemical vapour deposition uses the reaction of gaseous carbon black and borane at high temperature to create boron carburide. The reaction formula is B2H6+6C + B4C+6H2. The reaction temperature ranges between 1000-1200°C. This method yields boron-carbide with a high degree of purity and superfine particles, but is costly and complicated.

Performance Characterization

Physical, chemical, mechanical, and other properties are mainly considered when describing the performance of boron carburide.

Physical property

Density, conductivity and thermal conductivity are the main physical properties of Boron carbide. The density is 2.52g/cm3, conductivity 10-6S/m, and thermal conductivity 97W/m*K.

Chemical Property

Boron carbide exhibits chemical stability, and it is not reactive to acids or alkalis. B4C is reactive with H2O and O2. High temperatures can generate B2O3, CO etc. B4C has anti-oxidant and corrosion resistance. This makes it suitable for long term use in high-temperature, corrosive environments.

Mechanical property

Boron carbide’s high hardness, melting temperature, and heat transfer make it a popular material in many industries. Hardness of 3500kg/mm2, melting point 2450, and heat transfer rate 135W/m*K are among the characteristics that make boron carbide so popular in industries, military, aerospace, and other fields.

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Boron Carbide and Silicon Can Make Body Armor More Impact

Boron Carbide – What is it and what does it do?

Boron carburide also known by the name black diamond has a molecular formula of B4C. It is usually a gray or black powder. It is one the three hardest substances known. It’s used in many industrial applications, including tank armor and body shields.

Upgrade to High-grade Body armor

In the past 12 year, researchers have looked for ways to reduce damage caused by bullets traveling at high speeds hitting armor made from boron carbide. Dr. Kelvin Yu Xie Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering said: “Our research has now met this need. This is an important step toward designing advanced body armor to protect against powerful weapons in battle.

Boron carbide has been called a “black diamand” and is only second in hardness to cubic boron. The boron-carbide armor material is lighter and harder than silicon carbide and easier to mass produce.


Boron Carbide Body Armor Lack

According to Texas A&M University’s research, the main drawback of boron carbide is that it can easily be damaged by high-speed impacts. Xie, in a recent statement, said: “Boron carbide is really effective at stopping bullets traveling at 900 meters per seconds. It can therefore effectively block the majority of pistol bullets. If the speed is exceeded, then boron carbide will lose its trajectory. “Performance is less effective.”


Scientists have discovered that high-speed vibrating boron carbide will lead to a phase shift. One of these changes will alter its internal structure, and it will present in two or more states at once. The bullet’s impact transforms boron carbide from a systematically organized crystalline state into a disorderly-arranged glass state. The contact area between the bullets and the boron-carbide is weakened by this glass-like condition.

Boron Carbide Plus Silica: Benefits

Xie explained: “When boron carbide undergoes a state change, its glassy form creates a path that cracks can follow. Any damage caused locally by the bullet’s impact will spread to the entire material. .”


Previous computer simulations suggested that small amounts other elements could make boron carbide less brittle. The researchers used a diamond tip to create controllable dents in boron carbide samples. This was done to simulate the initial impact from a high speed bullet. They used a powerful electron microscope to see the micro-damage caused by the impact.


Xie, his colleagues and their research showed that the amount of phase changes was reduced by 30% even if there is a low silicon content. This reduces indentation damage by a significant margin. Xie says that while silicon may enhance the properties boron carbide, further experiments are necessary to find out if other elements also can improve boron carbonide’s properties.


Tech Co., Ltd. () is an experienced boron-carbide powder manufacturer with over 12 year experience in chemical product development and research. You can send us an email if you want to buy high quality Boron carbide Powder.

The Applications of Boron Carbide Powder

Overview of Boron Carbide powder Boron carbide It is low in density and strong, has good high temperature stability and chemical stability. It is therefore widely used in wear-resistant material, ceramic reinforcement phases and lightweight armor. Boron carbide has a lower cost of production than diamond and cubic-boron nitride. This makes it more popular. It is sometimes used in place of expensive diamonds for polishing and grinding, drilling, etc.
B4C powder features high purity, low particle size distribution and a large specific surface area. B4C powder can be described as a synthetic superhard materials with a hardness level of 9.46, a microhardness range of 56-6200Kg/mm2, an average of 252g/cm3, a melting point at 2250 degrees Celsius and a ratio of 2.52g/cm3.
Chemical properties, non-magnetic at high temperature and low temperatures, strong acid and strong alkali. Boron carbide has the ability to absorb neutrons, emits no harmful radiation and is not subject to secondary radiation pollution. It is less hard than diamond. Boron carbide, one of the most stable acids, is stable in all concentrated and dilute acid solutions. Boron carbonide is stable below 800°C in an ambient air environment. The boron dioxide, which is the result of oxidation at high temperatures, is lost in gas phase. This makes it unstable and oxidized into carbon dioxide and then boron trioxide.
Boron carbide absorbs a large amount of neutrons and does not form radioactive isotopes. It is a great neutron absorber for nuclear power stations. It is used to control nuclear fission’s rate. Nuclear reactors use Boron carbide. It can be made into controllable rods or powder, depending on the surface area.
Boron Carbide B4C Powder Cas 12069-32-8
What are the potential applications Boron Carbide powder?
Control nuclear fission. It can absorb a large amount of neutrons without creating radioactive isotopes. It is an excellent neutron absorber in nuclear power plants. It is mainly used to control the rate at which nuclear fission takes place. The majority of Boron is made into controllable rods for nuclear reactors. However, the surface area increases can sometimes make it into powder.
Abrasive: Boron Carbide has been used for many years as a coarse abrasive. The powder is difficult to form into artificial products because of its high melting temperature, but it can be melted into simple shapes. It can withstand high temperatures. Useful for polishing, drilling, grinding, and drilling hard materials, such as gems and cemented carbide.
Boron carbide is also a coating paint that can be used on warships and helicopters. It is light-weight and resistant to armor-piercing bullets. The hot-press coating forms an overall defense layer.
Nozzle: Boron carbide can be used to make a spray gun nozzle for the ordnance business. Boron carbide is very hard and wear-resistant. It does not react to acid or alkali and can withstand high temperature/low temperatures and high pressure. Boron carbide is used to make metalborides, smelt boron and boron alloys, special welding and other purposes.
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