3M Advanced Materials Division 3M™ Boron Carbide

Sandblasting. Abrasive lapping. Machining ultra-hard metals, ceramics and synthetic gemstones. To withstand conditions in these demanding applications, it takes a material with extreme abrasion resistance – like 3M™ Boron Carbide. Sometimes called “black diamond," boron carbide is one of the hardest materials known – only diamond and cubic boron nitride are harder – giving it exceptional abrasion resistance. 3M boron carbide also resists high temperatures (up to 400°C) and corrosive chemicals, and it is optimized for consistently high purity and high boron content. Our manufacturing processes yield consistently high boron content of almost 80 wt%, and 3M boron carbide contains almost the exact theoretical boron-to-carbon ratio of 4.3. It is used in a wide variety of industries, from abrasive grinding and lapping to carbon-bonded refractories, and even the nuclear power industry. We offer 3M boron carbide products in a variety of forms, including functional fillers, abrasive pastes and final articles such as blast nozzles, wear protecting tiles and neutron absorbing shapes.