2 C 3 ▁( i . e ., ▁with ▁B 1 2 ▁d ode c ah ed ra ▁being ▁a ▁mot if ), ▁but ▁with ▁less ▁carbon , ▁as ▁the ▁suggested ▁C 3 ▁units ▁are ▁replaced ▁with ▁C - B - C ▁ch ains , ▁and ▁some ▁smaller ▁( B 6 ) ▁oct ah ed ra ▁are ▁present ▁as ▁well ▁( see ▁the ▁bor on ▁car b ide ▁article ▁for ▁struct ural ▁analysis ). ▁The ▁repeating ▁polym er ▁plus ▁semi - c ry st all ine ▁structure ▁of ▁bor on ▁car b ide ▁gives ▁it ▁great ▁struct ural ▁strength ▁per ▁weight . ▁It ▁is ▁used ▁in ▁tank ▁arm or , ▁bullet proof ▁v ests , ▁and ▁numerous ▁other ▁struct ural ▁applications . ▁ ▁Bor on ▁car b ide ' s ▁ability ▁to ▁abs orb ▁neut rons ▁without ▁forming ▁long - l ived ▁rad ion u cl ides ▁( es pecially ▁when ▁do ped ▁with ▁extra ▁bor on - 1 0 ) ▁makes ▁the ▁material ▁attract ive ▁as ▁an ▁abs orb ent ▁for ▁neut ron ▁radiation ▁ar ising ▁in ▁nuclear ▁power ▁plants . ▁N uc lear ▁applications ▁of ▁bor on ▁car b ide ▁include ▁shield ing , ▁control ▁ro ds ▁and ▁shut - down ▁pel lets . ▁Within ▁control ▁ro ds , ▁bor on ▁car b ide ▁is ▁often ▁pow der ed , ▁to ▁increase ▁its ▁surface ▁area . ▁ ▁High - hard ness ▁and ▁ab ras ive ▁comp ounds ▁ ▁Bor on ▁car b ide ▁and ▁cub ic ▁bor on ▁nit ride ▁pow