What is boron carbide?

US President recently decided to invoke a Cold War-era defense law to encourage domestic Boron Carbide.

Overview of boron carbide powder

Boron carbide, also known as black diamond, is an inorganic substance with the chemical formula B4C, usually gray-black micropowder. It is one of the three hardest materials known (after diamond and cubic boron nitride). It is used in tank armor, bulletproof vests and many industrial applications. It has a Mohs hardness of about 9.5. Boron carbide is an important engineering ceramic material. It is the third hardest material after diamond and cubic boron nitride. Boron carbide also has excellent neutron absorption, high wear resistance and chemical stability. These properties play an important role in the civil, aerospace and military fields.

The main industrial preparation method of boron carbide

In recent years, major industrial countries have attached great importance to the development and research of special ceramics, forming a worldwide "ceramic craze" and making great progress. According to the reaction principle, raw materials and equipment used in the synthesis of boron carbide powder, the industrial preparation methods of boron carbide powder mainly include high temperature self-propagating synthesis method, electric arc furnace carbothermic reduction method, chemical gas phase reaction method, gel carbothermic reduction method, etc.

The industrial production of boron carbide often adopts the carbothermic reduction smelting method using boric acid and carbon as raw materials. This method requires a large amount of boric acid, and has problems such as high energy consumption and easy introduction of impurities. For the above reasons, low energy consumption was developed. , the synthetic method of boron carbide is easy to control the particle size of the product is a meaningful thing.

Boron carbide has the characteristics of low density, high strength, good high temperature stability and good chemical stability. Therefore, it is widely used in wear-resistant materials, ceramic reinforcement phases, especially lightweight armor, reactor neutron absorbers, etc. is more widely used. In some places, it can replace expensive diamonds and is often used for polishing, grinding, drilling, etc.

B4C powder has the characteristics of high purity, small particle size distribution and large specific surface area. B4C powder is a synthetic superhard material with a hardness of 9.46; a microhardness of 56-6200Kg/mm2, a ratio of 252g/cm3, and a melting point of 2250 degrees Celsius.

Chemical properties, non-magnetic, high and low temperature resistance, strong acid, strong alkali. In addition, boron carbide can effectively absorb neutrons, does not emit gamma rays that are harmful to the human body, and does not form secondary radiation pollution. The hardness is only lower than that of diamond. Boron carbide is one of the most acid-stable substances, stable in all concentrated or dilute aqueous acids or bases. Boron carbide is basically stable below 800 ℃ in the air environment. The boron oxide formed by high temperature oxidation is lost in the gas phase, making it unstable and oxidized to form carbon dioxide and boron trioxide.

Boron carbide can absorb a large number of neutrons without forming any radioactive isotopes. It is an ideal neutron absorber for nuclear power plants. Neutron absorbers primarily control the rate of nuclear fission. Boron carbide is used in nuclear reactors. Made into controllable rods, but sometimes into powders due to increased surface area.

Application of boron carbide powder

Controlled nuclear fission: can absorb a large number of neutrons without forming any radioactive isotopes. It is an ideal neutron absorber for nuclear power plants. Neutron absorbers primarily control the rate of nuclear fission. Boron is mainly used in the field of nuclear reactors as controllable rods, but sometimes into powders due to increased surface area.

Abrasives: Because boron carbide has long been used as a coarse abrasive. Due to its high melting point, it is not easy to cast into man-made products, but the powder can be smelted into simple shapes. high temperature. For grinding, grinding, drilling and polishing of hard materials such as carbide and gemstones.

Coating coatings: Boron carbide can also be used as ceramic coatings for warships and helicopters. It is lightweight and resists penetration of armor-piercing projectiles through the thermocompression coating, forming an overall defensive layer. Nozzles: Boron carbide can be used as spray gun nozzles in the ordnance industry. Boron carbide is extremely hard and wear-resistant, does not react with acid and alkali, is resistant to high temperature/low temperature, and is resistant to high pressure. Boron carbide is also used to manufacture metal borides and smelt sodium boron, boron alloys and special welding.

Boron carbide powder price

The price of boron carbide varies randomly with factors such as production costs, transportation costs, international conditions, exchange rates, and market supply and demand. Tanki New Materials Co.,Ltd. aims to help industries and chemical wholesalers find high-quality, low-cost nanomaterials and chemicals by providing a full range of customized services. If you are looking for boron carbide, please feel free to contact us for the latest boron carbide prices.

Boron carbide powder suppliers

As a global supplier of boron carbide, Tanki New Materials Co.,Ltd. has extensive experience in the performance, application and cost-effective manufacturing of advanced engineering materials. The company has successfully developed a series of powder materials (including chromium carbide, aluminum carbide, titanium carbide, etc.), high-purity targets, functional ceramics and structural devices, and provides OEM services.

Europe has been facing the gas shortage problem since the second half of 2021. The worsening situation in Russia and Ukraine has reduced Russian gas shipments to Europe, leading to a doubling of European gas prices. Energy shortages have sent electricity prices soaring. For these reasons, it is predicted that the price of the Boron Carbide will continue to increase.

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