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Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why is boron carbide used in abrasive products and nuclear reactor control rods?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
A labeled diagram of the periodic table entry for boron shows its atomic number 5, symbol B, electron configuration, atomic weight range, and classification as a solid, weakly acidic, other nonmetal with a rhombohedral crystal structure at room temperature.
boron Properties of boron.

Boron carbide (B4C) is utilized in these specific applications due to its unique physical and nuclear properties:

  • Abrasive Products: Boron carbide is one of the hardest synthetic substances known, possessing a Mohs hardness between 9 and 10. This extreme hardness makes it highly effective for lapping and fine abrading of metal and ceramic products.1
  • Nuclear Reactor Control Rods: The compound serves as an effective neutron absorber. This capability is primarily due to the presence of the boron-10 isotope, which has an exceptionally large capture cross section for thermal neutrons. By readily absorbing these neutrons, boron carbide is used to control the rate of fission within nuclear reactors.12