Boron Carbide (B4C) is a hard, covalent compound composed of boron and carbon. It is one of the hardest materials known, often used in various applications where durability, wear resistance, and high performance are required.
Formula: B₄C.
Molecular Weight: 55.25 g/mol.
Appearance: Black or dark gray, powdery, or crystalline form.
Hardness: Boron carbide is extremely hard, rated at about 9.3 on the Mohs scale, making it one of the hardest substances on Earth, just below diamond.
Density: ~2.52 g/cm³.
Melting Point: Approximately 2,350°C (4,270°F).
Electrical Conductivity: Boron carbide is a poor conductor of electricity and behaves as an insulator at room temperature.
Chemical Stability: It is chemically stable at high temperatures and has high resistance to corrosion and oxidation.
Boron carbide exists in a crystalline structure that features a combination of boron atoms and carbon atoms. The structure of boron carbide consists of chains of boron atoms linked by carbon atoms, creating a three-dimensional network that contributes to its remarkable hardness and stability.
Abrasives: Due to its extreme hardness, boron carbide is widely used as an abrasive material in grinding, polishing, and cutting tools, especially for hard materials such as metals, ceramics, and composites.
Armor-Piercing Ammunition: Boron carbide is used in the manufacture of armor-piercing projectiles due to its hardness and ability to withstand high impacts.
Body Armor: Due to its lightweight and hardness, boron carbide is used in the production of lightweight body armor and ballistic protection plates.
Nuclear Reactors: Boron carbide (B4C) is used as a neutron absorber in nuclear reactors to control the rate of nuclear fission and as part of control rods.
Refractory Materials: Its high melting point makes boron carbide useful in high-temperature applications, such as crucibles for molten metal handling and heat shields.
Semiconductors: Boron carbide (B4C) is used in semiconductor manufacturing, particularly in applications where its high-temperature stability and insulating properties are required.
Coatings: Boron carbide is used in coatings to provide abrasion resistance and thermal protection in various industrial applications.
VI HALBLEITERMATERIAL GmbH (VIMATERIAL) employs a stringent quality assurance system to ensure the reliability of our product quality. Strict quality control is implemented throughout the entire production chain, and for defective products, we strictly enforce the principle of rework and redo. Each batch is released only after passing detailed specification tests.
Every batch of our materials is independently tested, and, if necessary, we send samples to certified companies for testing. We provide these documents and analysis certificates with the shipment to certify that our products meet the required standards.
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