HAFNIUM CARBIDE

Chemical properties

dark, gray, brittle solid; fcc, a=0.4640 nm; high cross section for absorption of thermal neutrons; resistivity 8.8μohm· cm; most refractory binary material known; hardness 2300kgf/mm2; used in control rods of nuclear reactors; can be prepared by heating HfO2 with lampblack under H2 at 1900°C–2300°C; used in crucible form for melting hafnium oxide, other oxides [KIR80] [HAW93] [CER91]

Physical properties

Dark gray brittle solid, most refractory binary material known. Controls rods in nuclear reactors, crucible container for melting HfO and other oxides. 2 Corrosion resistant to liquid metals such as Nb, Ta, Mo, and W. Severe oxidation in air above 1100–1400°C and stable up to 2000°C in helium.

The Uses of HAFNIUM CARBIDE

Hafnium carbide (HfC) with a melting point over 3890°C is a refractory binary compound. HfC and NbC can also be used as refractory coatings in nuclear reactors. The mixed carbide Ta4HfC5 possesses the highest melting point of any currently known compound at 4215°C.

The Uses of HAFNIUM CARBIDE

Used for preparation of ultra-high temperature ceramics 1 Reactant in synthesis of hafnium-containing organometallic polymers 2 Additive in alloys 3 Used in coatings 4

The Uses of HAFNIUM CARBIDE

It is an ideal metal in the manufacture of control rods for nuclear reactors.

Production Methods

Hafnium carbide is a dark gray, brittle solid. It can be prepared by heating a mixture of the elements or by reacting hafnium tetrachloride with methane at 2100 C. Sufficient quantities of hafnium oxide or hafnium metal sponge are obtained during the large-scale production of pure zirconium for nuclear reactors. On an industrial scale, hafnium carbide can be produced from the hydrided hafnium sponge at 1500–1700 ℃ or from hafnium oxide at 2000–2200 ℃ by carburization in vacuo in the presence of hydrogen. The resulting carbide contains almost the theoretical quantity of carbon (6.30% °C) and a maximum of 0.1% free carbon (219). The hafnium carbide obtained is not a true stoichiometric compound as much as a solution of carbon at specific interstitial sites of a face-centered cubic hafnium lattice.
Hafnium carbide is inert to most reagents at room temperature but is dissolved by hydrofluoric acid solutions. Hafnium carbide reacts exothermally with halogens at 250–500 ℃to form hafnium tetrahalide, and to form hafnium oxide with oxygen above 500℃. In the presence of hydrogen, hafnium carbide slowly loses some of its carbon at higher temperatures.