Boron Carbide (B4C)

Third hardest material known, used in tank armor.

Core Principles & Analysis

• It is among the hardest known materials after diamond and cubic boron nitride, yet at 2.52 g/cm³ it is lighter than aluminum.
• The boron-10 isotope's large neutron-capture cross-section makes B4C the standard absorber in nuclear reactor control rods and shielding.
• Hot-pressed B4C plates, fielded for U.S. helicopter crews in the Vietnam War, remain a premier ceramic for lightweight body armor.

Specifications & Metrics

• DENSITY: 2.52 g/cm³
• YIELD STRENGTH: 2800 MPa (Flex)
• HARDNESS: 3000 HV