Introduction To Boron Carbide

Boron carbide, also known as black diamond, is an inorganic substance with the chemical formula B₄C, usually in the form of a gray-black powder. It is one of the three hardest materials known (after diamond and cubic boron nitride) and is used in tank armor, bulletproof vests, and many industrial applications. Its Mohs hardness is about 9.5. 
It was discovered in the 19th century as a byproduct of research on metal borides, but was not studied scientifically until the 1930s. Boron carbide can be made by reducing boron trioxide with carbon in an electric furnace.
Boron carbide can absorb a large number of neutrons without forming any radioactive isotopes, making it an ideal neutron absorber in nuclear power plants, where neutron absorbers are mainly used to control the rate of nuclear fission. Boron carbide is mainly made into controllable rods in nuclear reactors, but sometimes it is made into powder to increase the surface area.
It has the characteristics of low density, high strength, high temperature stability and good chemical stability. It is used in wear-resistant materials, ceramic reinforcement phases, especially in lightweight armor, reactor neutron absorbers, etc. In addition, compared with diamond and cubic boron nitride, boron carbide is easy to manufacture and has low cost, so it is more widely used. In some places, it can replace expensive diamonds and is commonly used in grinding, grinding, drilling, etc.