Tantalum Carbide is a family of binary chemical compounds of tantalum and carbon with the empirical formula TaCx. They are extremely hard, brittle, refractory ceramic materials with metallic electrical conductivity. They appear as brown-gray powders and are usually processed by sintering. Tantalum carbides are used in metallurgy, construction materials and electric power, hydropower, mining and other fields.
Tantalum carbide is a rare-earth metal with some of the hardest and most durable materials known to man. With a high melting point and the ability to resist corrosion, it is often used in tools and machinery. It can also be found in medical equipment and jewelry, where it is prized for its hardness, strength, and durability.
A new discovery could make it easier for scientists to develop refractory ceramics that can stand up to extreme heat. Researchers at Imperial College London have discovered that hafnium carbide can withstand temperatures of up to 4000degC, which is nearly as high as the melting point of titanium. This would mean that hafnium carbide could be used to protect rockets and spacecraft from the scorching temperatures of outer space.
Tantalum Carbide has been widely used as a sintering additive in ultra-high temperature ceramics and hard wear-resistant alloys. It is a great choice for industrial applications where it can be used to increase the melting temperature of the substrate metal, as well as improving its mechanical properties. It is often used as a coating for jet engine turbine blades and rocket nozzles, where it can improve the resistance to erosion and chemical corrosion.