Boron Carbide Rod Bar

Boron Carbide Rod and Bar HM

Boron Carbide Rod Bar

Purity: ≥99.5%

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

  • Boron carbide rods/bars are a high-performance ceramic material with low density, exceptional hardness, wear resistance, and thermal stability. Custom dimensions and shapes are available. As a leading supplier and manufacturer of premium boron carbide products, we can supply high-quality boron carbide rods and bars in various specifications and at competitive prices, offering customized solutions to meet specific requirements.
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Boron carbide rod/bar data sheet

Purity:

≥99.5%

Appearance:

Black or gray

Chemical formula:

B₄C

Density:

2.46-2.62 g/cm³

Boron carbide rod/bar Description

Boron carbide is a ceramic material with exceptional hardness, approaching that of diamond and cubic boron nitride, typically manufactured through sintering processes. Boron carbide rods/bars are produced using advanced processes, offering precise dimensions, stable performance, and customization to meet specific requirements.

  • Boron Carbide Rod HM
    Boron carbide rod
  • Boron Carbide Bar HM
    Boron carbide rod

Advantages of the boron carbide rod/bar

  • Low density
  • Exceptional hardness
  • Excellent wear resistance
  • Neutron absorption 

Pressure-free sintering process of boron carbide rods/bars

  • 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 boron carbide rod/bar

  • Ballistic materials : Boron carbide rods are widely used in bulletproof armor and protective equipment due to their extreme hardness, which effectively resists penetration by high-speed projectiles.
  • Abrasives : Thanks to their exceptional hardness and wear resistance, boron carbide rods are used as grinding and cutting tools in the precision machining, polishing, and abrasive industries.
  • Nuclear industry : Boron carbide has excellent neutron absorption properties, making it an essential material for use in nuclear reactors as a neutron absorber, improving reactor safety.
  • Aerospace : In the aerospace industry, boron carbide rods are used in the manufacture of lightweight, high-strength structural components and thermal protection materials for high-temperature environments.
  • High-temperature materials : Boron carbide rods can withstand extreme temperatures, making them suitable for high-temperature processing equipment, ensuring stability under harsh conditions.
  • Bulletproof Plate
    Bulletproof Plate
  • Ceramic Bulletproof plates for millitary aircraft pilot cockpit
    Ceramic Bulletproof plates for millitary aircraft pilot cockpit
  • Ceramic Bulletproof plates for tank
    Ceramic Bulletproof plates for tank
  • Boron Carbide for grinding
    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

Ceramic Machining HM

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.

ceramic products packing HM

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To customize your boron carbide custom parts, please provide tTo customize your boron carbide rod, or boron carbide bar, please provide the following details:

  • Dimensions : Length, width, height or diameter.
  • 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.

Yes, but only with diamond tools due to their extreme hardness.

Boron carbide is harder and lighter, but tungsten carbide has better toughness.

They absorb neutrons effectively without swelling or deforming.

Store in a dry place, avoiding mechanical shocks.

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 Rod/Bar

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