Nanoparticle research has discovered unexpected behavior of the basic elements when their atomic and molecular properties are altered. These altered properties have made valuable contributions in fields such as biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, electronics and ceramics. This article will look into the properties and applications of tantalum carbide.
Tantalum carbide (TaC) nanoparticles exhibit hardness which is greater than that of diamond. These particles are produced by the process of sintering. Another distinction associated with tantalum carbide is that it is a stoichiometric binary compound having the highest melting and boiling points. Tantalum belongs to Block D, Period 6 while carbon belongs to Block P, Period 2 of the periodic table.
Chemical Properties
The following tables list the chemical properties of tantalum carbide.
| Chemical Data |
| Chemical symbol |
TaC |
| CAS No |
12070-06-3 |
| Group |
Tantalum 5
Carbon 14 |
| Electronic configuration |
Tantalum [Xe] 4f14 5d3 6s2
Carbon [He] 2s2 2p2 |
| Chemical Composition |
| Element |
Content (%) |
| Tantalum |
93.77 |
| Carbon |
6.2 |
Physical Properties
Tantalum carbide nanoparticles appear in the form of a brown to dark brown powder having a cubic structure. The table below provides the physical properties of these nanoparticles.
| Properties |
Metric |
Imperial |
| Density |
14.30 g/cm3 |
0.516 lb/in3 |
| Molar Mass |
192.96 g/mol |
- |
Thermal Properties
The thermal properties of tantalum carbide nanoparticles are given in the table below:-
| Properties |
Metric |
Imperial |
| Melting Point |
3880° C |
7016° F |
| Boiling Point |
4780° C |
8636° F |
Applications
Given below are some of the chief applications of tantalum carbide:
- Refractory ceramic materials
- Cutting tools and tool bits
- Additive to tungsten carbide alloys
Source: AZoNano