BORON CARBIDE

PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION
CAS NO. 12011-54-0 (B-C) 12069-32-8 (B4-C)

BORON CARBIDE
EINECS NO. 235-111-5
FORMULA CB4
MOL WT. 55.25

H.S. CODE

  
TOXICITY  
SYNONYMS B4-C; Tetrabor;
SMILES  

CLASSIFICATION

 

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL STATE black powder
MELTING POINT 2350 C
BOILING POINT  
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 2.52
SOLUBILITY IN WATER

 
pH  
VAPOR DENSITY  

AUTOIGNITION

 

NFPA RATINGS

  

REFRACTIVE INDEX

 
FLASH POINT Not considered to be a fire hazard
STABILITY Stable under ordinary conditions.

APPLICATIONS
Boron carbide is a compound that contains boron and carbon, especially B4C; an extremely hard, non-metallic, black crystalline compound or solid solution. Only diamond is harder. In addition to its hardness property, boron carbide has the physical properties of corrosion resistance, heat strength, low specific gravity and high elastic modulus. It is used as an abrasive, neutron absorber for nuclear reactors, and as an alloying agent in composite structural materials.
SALES SPECIFICATION

APPEARANCE

black powder
CB4

95.0% min

TOTAL B
78.0% min

TOTAL C

19.0% min
MEAN PARTICLE SIZE

100 mesh, 325 mesh, 1000 grit
FREE C

2.5% max
B2O3

0.15% max
Fe

0.2% max
TRANSPORTATION
PACKING  
HAZARD CLASS Not regulated
UN NO.  
OTHER INFORMATION

European Hazard Symbols: XN, Risk Phrases: 20, Safety Phrases: 22-36/37/39-38

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF BORON AND ITS COMPOUNDS
Boron is a nonmetallic element, group III in the periodic table. Symbol B; aomic number 5; atomic mass 10.811; melting point ca 2,300 C; sublimation point ca 2,550 C;  specific gravity 2.37 or 2.34; valence +3; electronic config. [He]2s22p1. There are two allotropes of boron; amorphous boron is a dark brown to black amorphous powder, but metal-like crystalline solid is an extremely hard (9.3 on Mohs' scale), black to silver-gray, brittle, lustrous and has a bad conductor in room temperatures. The specific gravities of amorphous and crystalline forms are 2.37 and 2.34 respectively. The crystalline form is far less reactive than the amorphous form. The amorphous powder is oxidized slowly in air at room temperature and ignites spontaneously at high temperatures to form an oxide but the crystalline form is oxidized only very slowly, even at higher temperatures. Boron is widely distributed in the form of borates but is never found in the elemental form in nature. The important commercial borate products are borax penta (or deca) hydrate, boron oxide, sodium perborate, boric acid and minerals are borax, colemanite, ulexite, tincal, kermite, and brines as well as ascharite, hydroboracite, datolite, tourmaline, etc. The simple way to prepare boron of amorphous powder form is the reduction of boron trioxide by heating with magnesium. Boric acid is produced mainly from borate ores containing sodium or calcium by the reaction with sulfuric acid in the presence of a hot aqueous boric acid liquor to recycle.

Major end uses for borates include;

  • FIBERGLASS AND GLASS : Boron fibers probide very high tensile strength and can be added to plastics to make a material that is stronger than steel yet lighter than aluminum. Boron is used primarily in fiberglass and boronsilicate glass which is the strong heat-resistant glass that contains a minimum of 5 percent boric oxide. The resistance to heat and chemical is attributable to the boric oxide which replace for sodium oxide in the structure of the glass, creating low thermal expansion. Replace for sodium oxide, Boric Oxide is a powerful base offering a high quality of heat and chemical resistance. Boric compouds are important components in optical glass industry to reduce thermal and mechanical shocks but to increase chemical resistance and durability.
  • CERAMICS : Boric compounds reduce significantly the melting point and can be used as an essential ingredient for the production of ceramic frits and borosilicate glazes. Boric compounds are used to control the coefficient of expansion to ensure that the glaze remains fixed with the body without crazing or distortion.
  • AGRICULTURE AND FERTILIZER: Boron is an essential micronutrient for plant growth. Boron fertilizers mixed with other compounds or NPK fertilizers are useful boron-deficient soils.
  • FLAME RETARDANT : Boron is an effective chemical flame retardant for an ample array of products. It is also used for wood, plywood, textile products, cotton, paper and cellulose.
  • CORROSION INHIBITOR : Different boric composition can be used as Corrosion Inhibitors and anti-freeze (mixed with Ethylene Glycol in automobile motor cooling systems), as well as in brewing, heat treating, hydraulic fluids, and treatment of metallic products.
  • WOOD PRESERVATIVES and PESTICIDES : Borates and Boric Acid are very effective in controlling and eliminating insects and fungi. Though they are not harmful to mammals, they are toxic against cockroaches, ants, scarabs, larvae, and other insects, resulting in manipulation at any location and environment.
  • METALLURGY : Boron is used as a sealing for non-ferrous metals and used as a deoxidizer and degasifier in metallurgy. Because it absorbs neutrons. It is used in the production of steel. Traces of Ferro boron in boric steel increase its strength. Bron eliminates impurities metallurgist systems, resulting in highly pure material to be used in electrical conductors especially.
  • PHARMACEUTICALS AND COSMETICS : Boric Acid is recognized for its application as a pH buffer and as a moderate antiseptic agent and emulsifier. It is a component of ointments, mouth-washes, eye-drops, bath salts, creams and shampoos. It can be used for skin cooking sensation due to good thermal conductivity. It is also known boron compounds made with all 10B isotope selectively destroy cancer cell.
  • NUCLEAR APPLICATIONS : Boron is used in the shielding material,  in neutron detection and in some control rods of nuclear reactors as it absorbs neutrons.