B4C vs Silicon Carbide
Ceramic · grade comparison
B4C and Silicon Carbide are both ceramic grades. B4C is the stronger of the two: tensile strength 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) against 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) for Silicon Carbide, about 20% more. B4C is harder — 3,000 HV against 2,500 HV for Silicon Carbide — which matters for wear surfaces and threads. B4C is lighter (2.51 g/cm³ vs 3.15 g/cm³ for Silicon Carbide) and B4C is stiffer (450 GPa vs 410 GPa).
B4CChoose it when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters.
Silicon CarbideChoose it when the part sees heat.
B4C vs Silicon Carbide: propertiesHow to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all ceramic grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
How to read these bars
- One bar per material. A full bar is the highest value among all ceramic grades in the FabDigit library; each bar is drawn as a share of that.
- The better value (by the usual engineering direction) is in bold. Rows with no direction — density, thermal conductivity — have no bold.
- Values are typical room-temperature figures for the condition named on each card.
- Confirm against the certified mill or resin datasheet before design release.
Mechanical
Strength, stiffness, ductility and hardness at room temperature.
Elastic (Young's) Modulus
Shear Modulus
Bulk Modulus
Poisson's Ratio
Tensile Strength (Ultimate)
Compressive Strength
Flexural Strength
Shear Strength
Fracture Toughness (K_IC)
Hardness, Vickers
Hardness, Knoop
Hardness, Mohs
Physical
Density and transition temperatures.
Density
Melting Point (Solidus)
Porosity
Refractive Index
Thermal
How each material carries heat and how hot it can run.
Thermal Conductivity
Specific Heat Capacity
Thermal Expansion (CTE, 20–100 °C)
Max Service Temperature (continuous)
Min Service Temperature
Electrical
Conductivity and insulation.
Electrical Resistivity
Volume Resistivity
Chemical & Environmental
Corrosion and environmental resistance (0–100 scores).
Corrosion Resistance
Manufacturability
FabDigit workshop ratings (0–100 scores) — how each material behaves on the machine.
Polishability
Sintering / Firing Temperature
Same in both: Machinability 3 / 100
Sustainability
Primary-production footprint per kilogram.
Embodied Energy (primary production)
Embodied Carbon (primary production)
Embodied Water
Typical Recycled Content
Common Calculations
Ratios derived from the values above.
Specific Strength (UTS / density)
Specific Stiffness (E / density)
Thermal Diffusivity
Thermal Shock Resistance Index
Strength versus weight
Yield strength against density for every ceramic grade in the FabDigit library; the compared grades are highlighted. Up and left is stronger for its weight.
Manufacturing and finishing
| Capability | B4C | Silicon Carbide |
|---|---|---|
| Default condition | — | — |
| Relative cost | $$$$ High | $$$$ High |
| Min. machined wall | — | — |
| Best machined surface | — | — |
B4C vs Silicon Carbide — frequently asked
Is B4C stronger than Silicon Carbide?
Yes. B4C has a typical tensile strength of 300 MPa (43.5 ksi) against 250 MPa (36.3 ksi) for Silicon Carbide — about 20% more.
Which is cheaper, B4C or Silicon Carbide?
Both sit in the same relative cost tier ($$$$, high); the part price will be decided by machining time, tolerance and quantity rather than by the material.
When should I choose B4C over Silicon Carbide?
Pick B4C when strength drives the design, or when surface hardness matters. Pick Silicon Carbide when the part sees heat.
Ready to make it?
Upload a CAD file and FabDigit prices the part in B4C and Silicon Carbide side by side — material, machining time, tolerance and finish in one quote. Certified material data ships with the order on request.
Typical handbook values for the conditions named above, normalised for comparison. Hardness on non-Brinell scales is converted approximately for charting only. Request certified data with your order for design-critical properties.