Alpha Quartz vs. Boron Carbide
Alpha quartz belongs to the non-glass optical ceramics classification, while boron carbide belongs to the non-oxide engineering ceramics. There are 10 material properties with values for both materials. Properties with values for just one material (14, in this case) are not shown.
For each property being compared, the top bar is alpha quartz and the bottom bar is boron carbide.
Metric UnitsUS Customary Units
Material Properties
| Density, g/cm3 | 2.7 | |
| 2.1 to 2.7 |
| Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus, GPa | 91 | |
| 240 to 460 |
| Knoop Hardness | 740 | |
| 2600 to 3200 |
| Poisson's Ratio | 0.13 | |
| 0.17 to 0.19 |
| Specific Heat Capacity, J/kg-K | 720 | |
| 950 |
| Stiffness to Weight: Axial, points | 19 | |
| 63 to 100 |
| Stiffness to Weight: Bending, points | 57 | |
| 91 to 100 |
| Thermal Conductivity, W/m-K | 8.5 | |
| 31 to 90 |
| Thermal Diffusivity, mm2/s | 4.4 | |
| 16 to 38 |
| Thermal Expansion, µm/m-K | 9.5 | |
| 4.5 to 5.6 |