Boron carbide (B_4C) has a series of excellent properties such as high hardness, high melting point, small bulk density, acid and alkali corrosion resistance, and has been widely used in machinery, chemical industry, military, aerospace and other fields. The research progress and application of boron carbide materials at home and abroad in recent years are reviewed. The effects of sintering processes such as non‐pressing sintering, hot pressing sintering, hot isostatic sintering, discharge plasma sintering and microwave sintering and sintering additives (elemental, oxide, carbide) on densification of boron carbide materials are analyzed, and the development of boron carbide materials is prospected.