Applications of boron carbide

　　Controlling nuclear fission

　　Boron carbide can absorb a large number of neutrons without producing any radioactive isotopes, making it an ideal neutron absorber for nuclear power plants—where neutron absorbers primarily serve to regulate the rate of nuclear fission. In nuclear reactors, boron carbide is typically fabricated into controllable rod-shaped forms, though in some cases, it’s converted into powder form to maximize surface area.

　　During the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident, a frontline aviation regiment stationed in Tozuk, Russia, was fully deployed east of Chernobyl, with helicopters ranging from Mi-8 to Mi-26 immediately mobilized for air transport missions. After the boron carbide supplies ran low, they switched to dropping ordinary sand instead. As the sand-delivery operations progressed, flying conditions gradually improved significantly. Once nearly 2,000 tons of boron carbide and sand had been dropped by helicopter, engineers finally announced that the chain reaction inside the reactor had ceased—marking the end of the crisis. In total, the helicopters transported an impressive 5,000 tons of materials during the operation.[1]

　　Grinding material

　　Since boron carbide is a solid even harder than silicon carbide or tungsten carbide, it has long been used as a coarse abrasive material. Although its high melting point makes it difficult to cast into artificial shapes, it can be processed into simple forms through high-temperature melting of its powdered form. It is widely employed for grinding, polishing, drilling, and finishing hard materials such as cemented carbides and gemstones.

　　Coating paint

　　Boron carbide can also be used as a ceramic coating for warships and helicopters, offering lightweight protection while effectively resisting armor-piercing rounds and integrating with thermal-pressurized coatings to form a robust, all-in-one defense layer.

　　Nozzle

　　In the arms industry, it can be used to manufacture gun and cannon nozzles. Boron carbide is exceptionally hard and highly wear-resistant, chemically inert against acids and bases, and capable of withstanding both extreme high and low temperatures as well as high-pressure conditions, with a density of ≥2.46 g/cm³. Its microhardness exceeds 3,500 kgf/mm², while its flexural strength is at least 400 MPa. Additionally, boron carbide boasts a melting point of 2,450°C. Due to these outstanding wear-resistant and ultra-hard properties, boron carbide sandblasting nozzles are gradually replacing conventional nozzles made from materials such as cemented carbides/tungsten steel, as well as those crafted from silicon carbide, silicon nitride, alumina, and zirconia.

　　Other

　　Boron carbide is also used in the production of metal borides, as well as in the smelting of boron sodium, boron alloys, and specialized welding processes.