Grind-Lap offers Boron carbide powder is used as an abrasive in polishing and lapping applications due to its high hardness,, and also as a loose abrasive in cutting applications such as water jet cutting. It can also be used for dressing diamond tools.

Boron Carbide is one of the hardest materials known, ranking third behind diamond and cubic boron nitride. It is the hardest material produced in tonnage quantities.  Originally discovered in mid 19th century as a by-product in the production of metal borides, boron carbide was only studied in detail since 1930.

In common with other non-oxide materials boron carbide is difficult to sinter to full density, with hot pressing or sinter HIP being required to achieve greater than 95% of theoretical density. Even using these techniques, in order to achieve sintering at realistic temperatures (e.g. 1900 - 2200°C), small quantities of dopants such as fine carbon, or silicon carbide are usually required.