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PBN Crucibles for Precision Application

Pyrolytic Boron Nitride Crucible can withstand high temperatures in a high vacuum environment. It has excellent thermal conductivity, corrosion resistance, and electrical resistance.

Boron Carbide (B4C)

Boron Carbide (B4C) is distinguished by its extreme hardness, rated between 9 and 10 on the Mohs scale, making it one of the hardest synthetic substances, exceeded only by cubic boron nitride and diamond. This covalent ceramic is utilized in high-stakes applications such as tank armor, bulletproof vests, and industrial uses like engine sabotage powders due to its excellent chemical inertness and significant neutron absorption capacity. Its use extends to antioxidant components in refractory mixes and neutron-absorbing materials in nuclear reactor control and shielding, highlighting its versatility in both defense and advanced technological applications.

Despite its remarkable hardness and brittleness, Boron Carbide's low thermal conductivity and susceptibility to thermal shock do not compromise its utility in demanding environments. Additionally, its properties as a semiconductor and effective thermal-neutron capturer underline its importance in various sectors, including nuclear safety and semiconductor technology. Boron Carbide's unique blend of physical and chemical characteristics ensures its pivotal role in applications requiring materials that perform reliably under extreme conditions.

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Boron Carbide Ceramics Structure

Boron Carbide (B4C) features a unique crystal structure that contributes to its exceptional hardness and other remarkable properties. Its structure is rhombohedral, and the material is composed of a complex lattice of boron and carbon atoms. The crystal lattice can be described as consisting of icosahedra of boron atoms with carbon atoms positioned in the interstices, creating a structure that is both dense and covalently bonded.

In the boron carbide structure, the boron atoms form 12-atom icosahedra which are linked by the carbon atoms. These carbon atoms act as bridges between the boron icosahedra, contributing to the material's extreme hardness and resistance to deformation. The B4C crystal structure is characterized by a combination of strong covalent bonds within the icosahedra and between them, providing the material with its high hardness, which is only slightly less than that of diamond and cubic boron nitride.

This structural arrangement also results in several other significant properties of boron carbide, such as its low density compared to other ceramics, making it valuable for lightweight armor applications. Additionally, the structure imparts good chemical inertness, allowing it to resist attack by most acids and alkalis, and a high neutron absorption cross-section, making it useful in nuclear applications for neutron radiation shielding and control. The complex interplay of boron and carbon atoms within the boron carbide lattice is key to the material's impressive performance across a range of demanding applications.

Boron Carbide Ceramics Specification

Properties	Units	Value
Chemical Formula		B4C
Density	gm/cm3	2.1 to 2.7
Melting Point	℃	2445
Hardness (Knoop)	kg/mm	2800
Flexural Strength 4pt	Mpa	425
Compressive Strength	Mpa	2900
Modulus of Elasticity	Gpa	440
Poisson's Ratio		0.17 to 0.18
Specific Heat	J/kg-K	950
Fracture Toughness	Mpa x m1/2	3.1
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion	x10-6 mm/mmK	5
Thermal Conductivity	W/mK	31 to 90

Different Grades of Boron Carbide

Property	Unit	B₄C	B₄C +SiC	SiC+B₄C)
Density	g/cm³	2.52	2.62	2.8
Hardness	GPa	33	31	28
Fracture Toughness K_Ic ¹	MPa m²	2.5	3.4	4
Compressive Strength	MPa	3000	2900	2500
Flexural Strength @ 25°C	MPa	420	340	330

Boron Carbide Applications

Boron Carbide (B4C) is a versatile material known for its extreme hardness and durability, making it suitable for a wide range of applications. From defense to industrial and even nuclear sectors, its unique properties enable it to perform in environments where few materials can.

Defense and Armor

Body Armor and Protective Gear: Leveraging its incredible hardness and lightweight nature, B4C is extensively used in the production of body armor, helmets, and vehicle armor. Its ability to absorb and disperse high-impact energies makes it vital for personal protection in military and law enforcement.

Tank Armor: Beyond personal protective gear, boron carbide is a critical component in the armor of military tanks. Its exceptional hardness and resistance to penetration by ballistic projectiles ensure enhanced survivability in combat situations.

Industrial Uses

Abrasives: Boron carbide's hardness makes it ideal for use as an abrasive in water jet cutting, as well as in the manufacture of grinding wheels and abrasive powders. Its wear resistance ensures efficiency and longevity in cutting and grinding operations.

Nozzles: In industrial applications requiring the handling of abrasive materials, B4C nozzles offer superior durability and resistance to wear, particularly in sandblasting and spray nozzle applications.

Nuclear Applications

Neutron Absorption: One of the most critical applications of boron carbide is in nuclear technology, where its high neutron absorption capability is utilized in reactor control rods and neutron shielding. This property is essential for managing nuclear reactions and ensuring safety in nuclear power plants.

Semiconductor Industry

Ion Implantation: In the semiconductor manufacturing process, boron carbide is used as a material for ion implantation. Its properties facilitate the doping of semiconductors with boron ions, a step crucial for modifying electrical properties in semiconductor devices.

Advanced Engineering Materials

Refractory Components: The chemical inertness and thermal stability of B4C make it suitable for use in refractory applications. Components made from boron carbide can withstand high temperatures and aggressive environments, making them ideal for furnaces and kilns.

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Your Boron Carbide Ceramics Supplier

Advanced Ceramic Materials (ACM) is a leading supplier of boron carbide ceramic products of the highest quality for a wide range of applications. We are happy to provide advice on materials, design, and application. Feel free to contact us for any questions about B4C or other ceramic materials that are not listed on the website.

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FAQs

Can Boron Carbide Stop Bullets?

Yes, boron carbide is a critical material in the manufacture of bulletproof vests and armor plates. Its hardness and ability to absorb impact energy make it effective at stopping ballistic projectiles.

What Are the Outstanding Advantages of Boron Carbide?

The properties of boron carbide include its extreme hardness (9.5-9.75 on the Mohs hardness scale), stability to ionizing radiation, resistance to chemical reactions, and good shielding properties against neutrons. The Vickers hardness, elastic modulus, and fracture toughness of boron carbide are very close to the corresponding values for diamond.

How To Manufacture Boron Carbide?

Boron carbide powder can be produced commercially using either fusion (which involves reducing boron anhydride (B2O3) with carbon, or by magnesiothermic reaction (boron anhydride is made to react with magnesium in the presence of carbon black. Another method for producing boron carbide is pressureless sintering at a very high temperature (2300–2400°C), which is close to the melting point of boron carbide.

What Is Boron Carbide Usually Used For?

- Used as an abrasive and lapping agent - Used for ceramic blasting nozzles - Used as a ballistic protective material

Where Can I Get High Quality B4C Ceramic?

Advanced Ceramic Materials (ACM) is a global ceramic supplier which has more than 20-year experience in this industry to meet our customers' R&D and production needs. You can reach our sale team via the inquiry page, or email [email protected].

Why Is Boron Carbide So Hard?

The extreme hardness of boron carbide is attributed to its unique crystal structure, which consists of a complex arrangement of boron and carbon atoms. This structure creates strong covalent bonds, making it incredibly hard and resistant to wear.

Is Boron Carbide Heavier Than Steel?

No, boron carbide is significantly lighter than steel. Its low density, combined with extreme hardness, makes it an ideal material for protective armor that requires both high protection and mobility.

How Does Boron Carbide Compare to Other Ceramics?

Boron carbide is harder and less dense than many other ceramics. It offers superior wear resistance, thermal stability, and chemical inertness, making it preferred for applications requiring extreme durability.

Are There Any Limitations to Using Boron Carbide?

While boron carbide offers many advantages, its extreme hardness makes it difficult to machine into complex shapes, and it can be more costly than some other ceramic materials. Additionally, it is susceptible to fracture under severe impact due to its brittleness.

Properties

Chemical Formula	B4C
Mechanical
Density	2.52 g/cm3
Hardness	27.4 GPa
Modulus of Elasticity	450 GPa
Flexural Strength	350 MPa
Compressive Strength	3000 MPa
Poisson's Ratio	0.2
Fracture Toughness	3.2 MPa m½
Thermal
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion	2.7 x 10^-6/°C
Thermal Conductivity	27 W/(m*K)
Specific Heat	1854 x10^3 J/(Kg*K)
Shock Resistance	-
Maximum Working Temperature	600 °C