Boron carbide

Boron carbide
Names
	IUPAC name Boron carbide
	Other names Tetrabor
Identifiers
CAS Number	12069-32-8 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
ChemSpider	109889 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.031.907
PubChem CID	123279;
UNII	T5V24LJ508 ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID4051615 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/CB4/c2-1-3(2)5(1)4(1)2 Key: INAHAJYZKVIDIZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N ; InChI=1/CB4/c2-1-3(2)5(1)4(1)2 Key: INAHAJYZKVIDIZ-UHFFFAOYAS;
	SMILES B12B3B4B1C234;
Properties
Chemical formula	B4C
Molar mass	55.255 g/mol
Appearance	dark gray or black powder, odorless
Density	2.50 g/cm3, solid.
Melting point	2,350 °C (4,260 °F; 2,620 K)
Boiling point	>3500 °C
Solubility in water	insoluble
Structure
Crystal structure	Rhombohedral
Hazards
Safety data sheet (SDS)	External MSDS
Related compounds
Related compounds	Boron nitride
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

Boron carbide (chemical formula approximately B₄C) is an extremely hard boron–carbon ceramic, a covalent material used in tank armor, bulletproof vests, engine sabotage powders,^[2] as well as numerous industrial applications. With a Vickers hardness of >30 GPa, it is one of the hardest known materials, behind cubic boron nitride and diamond.^[3]

^ ^a ^b ^c Haynes, William M., ed. (2016). CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics (97th ed.). CRC Press. p. 4.52. ISBN 9781498754293.
^ Gray, Theodore (2012-04-03). The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe. Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. ISBN 9781579128951. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
^ "Rutgers working on body armor". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, N.J. August 11, 2012. Retrieved 2012-08-12. ... boron carbide is the third-hardest material on earth.