In terms of physical properties, the hardness of boron carbide is only second to diamond and cubic boron nitride, and it can still maintain high strength at high temperature, which can be used as an ideal high-temperature wear-resistant material. The density of boron carbide is very small (theoretical density is only 2.52 g / cm3), which is lighter than ordinary ceramic materials and can be used in the aerospace field. Boron carbide has strong neutron absorption capacity, good thermal stability, and a melting point of 2450 °C, so it is also widely used in the nuclear industry. The neutron absorption capacity can be further improved by adding B element. The boron carbide material with specific morphology and structure also has special photoelectric and other properties. In addition, boron carbide has high melting point, high elastic modulus, low expansion coefficient and high oxygen absorption capacity and other advantages which make it a potential application material in many fields such as metallurgy, chemical industry, machinery, aerospace and military industry. For example, it can be used as corrosion-resistant and wear-resistant parts, for making bulletproof armor, reactor control rods and thermoelectric elements, etc.

In terms of chemical properties, boron carbide does not react with acids, bases and most inorganic compounds at room temperature, and hardly reacts with oxygen and halogen gases, and its chemical properties are stable. In addition, boron carbide powder is activated by halogen as a steel boronizing agent, and boron is infiltrated on the surface of the steel to form an iron boride film, thereby enhancing the strength and wear resistance of the material.