Boron Carbide Block

Purity: ≥99.5%

Custom sizes and standard sizes in stock
Competitive Price
Quick Lead Time

Boron carbide blocks are high-performance ceramic materials with low density, exceptional hardness, wear resistance, and thermal stability. They are widely used in the nuclear, defense, chemical, and electronics industries. As a leading supplier and manufacturer of premium boron carbide products, we can supply high-quality boron carbide blocks in various specifications and at competitive prices, offering customized solutions to meet specific requirements.

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Technical data sheet for the boron carbide block

Purity:	≥99.5%
Appearance:	Black or gray
Chemical formula:	B₄C
Density:	2.46-2.62 g/cm³

Description of the boron carbide block

Boron carbide is a ceramic material with exceptional hardness, approaching that of diamond and cubic boron nitride, typically manufactured through sintering processes. With excellent neutron absorption capacity, boron carbide blocks are frequently used in nuclear reactors to regulate reaction rates. Their ballistic protection properties make them ideal for defense equipment. Boron carbide blocks are manufactured using advanced processes, offering precise dimensions, stable performance, and customized solutions for a wide range of industrial and research applications.

Advantages of the boron carbide block

High hardness and resistance
Excellent resistance to thermal shock
Excellent chemical inertness
Excellent wear resistance
Good corrosion resistance
High temperature resistance
High flexural strength
Lightweight

Pressure-free sintering process of boron carbide blocks

Raw material preparation : Use high purity boron carbide powder and sintering auxiliaries.
Powder mixing : Mix the powder and sintering auxiliaries evenly.
Molding : Giving the powder the desired shape.
Degassing : Remove volatile components to prevent bubbles or cracks.
Sintering without pressure : Sintering at 1600-2000°C.
Refrigeration and inspection : Cool to room temperature and check quality.

Applications of the boron carbide block

Armor protection : It is used to manufacture ballistic plates or armor blocks, which offer lightweight, high-strength protection for military vehicles and personal equipment.
Nuclear industry : Used as neutron shielding material in nuclear reactors or for radioactive material storage for radiation protection.
Abrasive tools : Transformed into wear-resistant components for cutting, grinding or polishing tools, ideal for machining very hard materials.
Industrial wear components : Used as wear-resistant linings or molds in high-wear environments such as mining and metallurgy.
High-temperature equipment : Applied as corrosion-resistant structural blocks in high-temperature furnaces or chemical reaction systems.

Bulletproof Plate
Ceramic Bulletproof plates for tank
Ceramic Bulletproof plates for millitary aircraft pilot cockpit
Boron Carbide for grinding

Boron Carbide Material Properties

Property	Value
Chemical Formula	B₄C
Density	2.51 g/cm³
Color	Black or dark grey
Crystal Structure	Hexagonal
Water Absorbtion	ng %@R.T.
Hardness	9.5 Mohs
Hardness	ng knoop (kg/mm²)

Property	Value
Compressive Strength	2.9 MPa @ R.T.
Tensile Strength	155 MPa @ R.T.
Modulus of Elasticity	445 GPa
Flexural Strength (MOR)	375 MPa @ R.T.
Poisson’s Ratio, ν	0.19
Fracture Toughness, K_IC	ng MPa x m^(1/2)

Property	Value
Max. Use Temperature	2450 °C
Thermal Shock Resistance	ng ΔT (°C)
Thermal Conductivity	28 W/m-K @ R.T.
Coefficient of Linear Expansion	5.54 μm/m-°C (~25°C through ±1000°C)
Specific Heat, Cp	945 cal/g-°C @ R.T.

Boron Carbide Material Grades

Reaction bonded boron carbide (B4C) is primarily used ballistic armor, providing excellent protection while reducing weight as compared to other armor materials.

Properties	Units	Reaction Bonded Boron Carbide
Flexural Strength, MOR (20 °C)	MPa	250
Fracture Toughness, KIc	MPa m1/2	3.0 – 4.0
Thermal Conductivity (20 °C)	W/m K	50
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion	1×10^-6/°C	4.5
Maximum Use Temperature	°C	1000
Dielectric Strength (6.35mm)	ac-kV/mm	—
Dielectric Loss (tan δ)	1MHz, 25 °C	—
Volume Resistivity (25°C)	Ω-cm	10³

Reaction Bonded B4C Advantages:

High strength
High hardness
Cost-effective
Suitable for large-scale applications

Hot-pressed, also known as pressure assisted densified (PAD), boron carbide is one of the hardest materials available in commercial shapes. This exceptional hardness combined with low density is used in ballistic armor, maximizing protection while minimizing weight.

Properties	Units	Hot Pressed Boron Carbide
Flexural Strength, MOR (20 °C)	MPa	320 – 450
Fracture Toughness, KIc	MPa m1/2	3.0 – 4.0
Thermal Conductivity (20 °C)	W/m K	45 – 100
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion	1×10^-6/°C	4.5 – 4.9
Maximum Use Temperature	°C	2000
Dielectric Strength (6.35mm)	ac-kV/mm	—
Dielectric Loss (tan δ)	1MHz, 25 °C	—
Volume Resistivity (25°C)	Ω-cm	100

Hot Pressed B4C Advantages:

Higher density
Better mechanical properties
Ideal for high-strength, high-temperature engineering materials

Pressureless sintered boron carbide combines high purity and the excellent mechanical properties of boron carbide for use in both ballistic armor and semiconductor manufacturing.

Properties	Units	Sintered Boron Carbide
Flexural Strength, MOR (20 °C)	MPa	450
Fracture Toughness, KIc	MPa m1/2	3.0 – 5.0
Thermal Conductivity (20 °C)	W/m K	43 – 100
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion	1×10-6/°C	4.5 – 4.9
Maximum Use Temperature	°C	—
Dielectric Strength (6.35mm)	ac-kV/mm	—
Dielectric Loss (tan δ)	1MHz, 25 °C	—
Volume Resistivity (25°C)	Ω-cm	10

Pressureless Sintered B4C Advantages:

High hardness
Excellent wear resistance
High chemical stability
Low density
Good thermal stability

Boron Carbide Ceramic Machining

Boron Carbide Ceramic machining is a demanding process used to shape this ultra-hard ceramic into precise components for technical applications. Due to its exceptional hardness and brittleness, machining boron carbide requires specialized tools and careful control to prevent cracking or surface damage. While the material can be shaped more easily in its green or biscuit state, achieving tight tolerances often requires machining after full sintering, which involves diamond-based techniques. The common machining methods include:

Diamond Cutting: Diamond-coated tools are essential for cutting fully sintered boron carbide, enabling accurate shaping and smooth surface finishes.
Precision Grinding: Used to achieve fine tolerances and clean finishes. This process is slow and requires careful handling to avoid micro-cracks or structural damage.
Ultrasonic Machining: Applies high-frequency vibrations with abrasive slurry to remove material gently, suitable for intricate and delicate shapes.
Laser Cutting: A non-contact technique effective for pre-sintered material or thin sections, offering clean edges with minimal thermal stress.
Green Machining: Carried out before sintering, allowing easier shaping of complex geometries. However, post-sintering shrinkage (~20%) must be accounted for in final dimensions.

Boron Carbide Ceramic Packaging

Boron Carbide ceramic products are typically packaged in vacuum-sealed bags to prevent moisture or contamination and wrapped with foam to cushion vibrations and impacts during transport, ensuring the quality of products in their original condition.

Download

Boron Carbide Data Sheet_PDS
SAFETY DATA SHEET (SDS) – Boron Carbide Ceramic

Dodd-Frank / Conflict Minerals Certification
Company Profile

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To customize your boron carbide block, please provide us with the following information:

Dimensions : Length × Width × Height
Material quality : Specify the material grades.
Purity of the material
Tolerances : Specify the tolerances you can accept.
Surface finish: polished, rough, etc.
Quantity of the products you need
Alternatively, you can provide a drawing with your specifications.

Once we have this information, we will be able to provide you with a quote within 24 hours.

We carry a wide variety of boron nitride products in stock, and for these, there is generally no minimum order requirement. However, for custom orders, we typically set a minimum order value of $200. The lead time for stock items is usually 1-2 weeks, while custom orders usually take 3-4 weeks, depending on the specifics of the order.

With a Mohs hardness of 9.5, it is harder than alumina (9.0) and slightly harder than diamond (10).

600℃ in oxidizing environments and up to 2000℃ in vacuum/inert gas.

Highly resistant to acids and alkalis, but reacts with molten metals at high temperatures.

El carburo de boro ofrece una dureza superior (9,5 frente a 9,2 Mohs) y un peso más ligero para la protección de los equipos.

Advanced Ceramic Hub, established in 2016 in Colorado, USA, is a specialized supplier and manufacturer of graphene products. With extensive expertise in supply and export, we offer competitive pricing and customized solutions tailored to specific requirements, ensuring outstanding quality and customer satisfaction. As a professional provider of ceramics, refractory metals, specialty alloys, spherical powders, and various advanced materials, we serve the research, development, and large-scale industrial production needs of the scientific and industrial sectors.

Boron Carbide Block

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Boron Carbide Block