The Applications of Carbides

Abstract

The properties of carbides — particularly those of the carbides of the transition metals of Mendeleev’s periodic system of the elements, which are characterized by high melting points and great hardness, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, and the metallic nature of their conduction — determine the possibility of their wide application in various fields of technology. Whereas, in the early days, the transition-metal carbides were used mainly as constituents of hard alloys, within the last 10 years their fields of application have considerably broadened and now embrace, in general terms, the following:

• 1. Refractory materials.

• 2. Corrosion-resistant materials and materials for the chemical industry.

• 3. Materials for nuclear-energy production.

• 4. Materials for the manufacture of aircraft and rockets.

• 5. Materials for electrical and radio purposes.

• 6. Superhard and wear-resistant materials.