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One of the hardest materials – Boron Carbide

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Boron carbide (B4C), is one of most hard-working manufacturing materials on the planet. The strong chemical bonds it forms and its hard surface make it resistant to harsh environments. This makes it ideal for extreme applications like bulletproof vests, tank armor, and bulletproof vests. This material is extremely durable and lightweight, ensuring maximum protection. This material also has a high neutron absorption potential and can be used for radiation shielding. Therefore, it is widely used in both the nuclear and radiation generating industries. Where is boron caride useful?
Boron carbide (also known as black diamond) is an organic compound. This organic substance was found in 19th-century as a byproduct of the research into metal boride. However, scientific research didn’t begin until the 1930s. By reducing diboron Trioxide with carbon, you can obtain Boron Carbide. Boron carbide can absorb large amounts of neutrons and not form radioactive isotopes. Boron carbide is a good neutron absorber in nuclear power stations. This neutron absorber controls nuclear fission. Although boron carbide is mostly made into rods that can be controlled in nuclear reactors’ fields, there are times when it becomes powder because of its larger surface area. Because of its high hardness, boron carbonide powder can be used in grinding and polishing applications as well as as loose abrasive when cutting such as waterjet cutting. It is also used for the dressing of diamond tools.

Is it hard to make boron caride?
The cost of diamonds isn’t the only problem. The oxidation of diamonds at elevated temperatures (over 600 F) can lead to chemical reactions with ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Researchers have sought to find a better alternative that can resist high pressure, high temperatures and corrosion. This field is dominated by materials with C, N or B elements. They form weak covalent bonds in a particular directionality which make them hard to shape. These elements result in high hardness.

Mohs hardness for boron carbide ranges between 9 and 10. This is the highest known synthetic material. This is the limit of cubic boron nutride and diamond. This makes it ideal for extreme applications like bulletproof vests, tank armor, and bulletproof vests.

Is boron carbide expensive?
Boron carbide can be used to create tools or other wear-resistant items in machines. This process takes a lot of time and energy, which makes the boron-carbide products 10 times more costly than the non-wear-resistant ceramic materials currently on the market. Because it is so easy to produce and has a low cost of production, boron caride is widely used. You can use it to substitute expensive diamonds.

Is boron carbide conductive?
Boron carbide, a hard-refractory solid with a melting point of > 2400°C is very strong. Additionally, it has a unique thermoelectric property in temperatures exceeding 700 degrees Celsius. It has low thermal conductivity and Seebeck coefficient.

Additive Composite in Sweden and Add North 3D in the USA have created and published a new boron-carbide composite filament that can be used for radiation shielding. It is available as Addbor N25. The materials are made from boron and co-polyamide.

Add North 3D and Add North Composite, Uppsala, have developed a filament with the same anti-radiation properties as boron carbide. The filament is printable. Uppsala University supported the research that led to this new material.
Its high content of boron carbonide makes it capable of absorption neutrons produced by radiation or research facilities using nuclear energy. Combining the material and a printable matrix of polymers, Swedish companies create new products.

Additive Composite explains: “It’s important that 3D printing can make complex shapes quickly in order to protect against stray radiation, and create collimated beams.”

Adam Engberg CEO, Additive Composite Uppsala AB said that additive manufacturing was changing the design and production of many products. Addbor N25, we believe, contributes to the development of Additive Composite Uppsala AB and allows industry as well large research centers to replace harmful materials that can eventually pollute our environment. We are developing a variety of radiation shielding products, and this is our new product.

(aka. Technology Co. Ltd. (aka. High purity and fine particles are the hallmark of the boron carbide powder that our company produces. Contact us for any further information.


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