Used as an abrasive in grinding, lapping, and polishing due to its extreme hardness, second only to diamond and cubic boron nitride. Commonly used in nozzles for water jet cutting equipment where high wear resistance is required. Employed in lightweight composite armor for personnel and vehicles because of its ability to dissipate high-velocity impact energy. Utilized in neutron absorber rods in nuclear reactors due to its high cross-section for capturing thermal neutrons. Applied in wear-resistant coatings and components in industrial machinery, such as seals and bearings. Also used in the production of cutting tools and dies for drawing wires.