Borium

Borium is a product that consists of tungsten carbide granules embedded in a matrix of softer metal. Borium is used in farriery to improve traction for horses. Other applications include ploughshares, saw teeth, cane knives and drill bits. Borium should not be confused with the chemical elements barium, bohrium or boron, the last of which is called borium in a number of languages.

Borium in farriery

Borium is usually supplied either as a tubed steel or brass rod with tungsten carbide granules embedded in it, or as "nuggets" or "bullets", short closed and flattened sections of similar rod. It is available in various grades of fineness of carbide particle, and either fluxed or unfluxed.

In farriery, it is welded to the underside of the horseshoe, either in one or more small areas ("pads" or "puddles"), or in a thin line round the front edge,^[1] in order to improve traction of the hoof on slippery surfaces such as roads or ice. It may also extend the life of the horseshoe by reducing wear.

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