TaC
TaC (tantalum carbide) is an ultra-high-temperature transition-metal carbide supplied as powder (PWD) and as hot-pressed (HP), spark-plasma-sintered (SPS) or pressureless-sintered (PS) bodies.
Reference datasheet — TaC is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the HP condition
TaC tempers and conditions
TaC is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. HP is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 conditionsHide
| Condition · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness | Conductivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pressureless sintered TaC | Lower-cost route for complex shapes; residual porosity and aid phases cut strength, hardness and conductivity. | 1,450 HV | 16 W/m·K | |||
HPDefault Hot-pressed sintered TaC ceramic | Standard route for bulk TaC parts and UHTC test pieces: uniaxial hot pressing at 1900–2100 °C gives near-full density with moderate grain growth. | 1,700 HV | 22 W/m·K | |||
Spark-plasma-sintered fine-grain TaC | Pick when maximum strength, hardness and toughness are needed: fast SPS cycles keep grain size a few µm and close residual porosity. | 1,900 HV | 25 W/m·K |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways TaC is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
PWD | TaC powder additive grade (99.0–99.9 %, 0.8–3 µm) for cemented carbide… | Supply form |
What is TaC?
TaC (tantalum carbide) is an ultra-high-temperature transition-metal carbide supplied as powder (PWD) and as hot-pressed (HP), spark-plasma-sintered (SPS) or pressureless-sintered (PS) bodies. Engineers use it as a grain-refining addition to WC-Co cutting-tool grades and as a UHTC phase for components rated to 2200 °C, with 500 GPa elastic modulus and metallic conductivity that permits EDM. Limits are its 14.4 g/cm³ density, modest 22 W/m·K thermal conductivity, oxidation in air without a protective coating, and high raw-material cost; HfC is the nearest alternative. TaC has a density of 14.4 g/cm³ (0.52 lb/in³), heavier than 90% of ceramic grades. It melts at 3,880°C (7,016 °F). The elastic modulus is 500 GPa (72.5 Msi).
What is TaC used for?
- cemented carbide tool grain refiner
- rocket nozzle throat inserts
- wear-resistant coatings
- UHTC composites
Advantages
- High service temperature — 2,200°C (3,992 °F), better than 96% of ceramic grades
- Stiff — 500 GPa (72.5 Msi), better than 77% of ceramic grades
Limitations
- High embodied carbon — 210 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 100% of ceramic grades
- Heavy — 14.4 g/cm³ (0.52 lb/in³), worse than 90% of ceramic grades
TaC properties
Typical room-temperature values for TaC-HP; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
TaC has a density of 14.4 g/cm³ (0.52 lb/in³), heavier than 90% of ceramic grades. It melts at 3,880°C (7,016 °F).
Mechanical10
The elastic modulus is 500 GPa (72.5 Msi).
Thermal5
TaC is rated for continuous service to 2,200°C (3,992 °F). It conducts heat at 22 W/m·K (12.7 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 51% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 6.3 µm/m·K (3.5 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
TaC has an electrical resistivity of 2.5×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is very good (80/100), better than 56% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of TaC takes about 3,200 MJ of energy and emits 210 kg of CO₂ — more than 99% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 10%.
Manufacturability3
TaC's machinability is not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades).
Common Calculations2
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the ceramic family
Yield strength against density for every ceramic grade FabDigit runs. TaC is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with TaC
Is TaC easy to machine?
Green machining before sintering is the practical route; fired TaC is finished only by diamond grinding, lapping or — thanks to its metallic conductivity — wire/sinker EDM.
Can TaC be welded?
Not weldable; joined by active brazing (Ti/Zr-bearing fillers), diffusion bonding to refractory metals, or co-sintering with a metal binder.
Can TaC be formed, bent or molded?
Powder route only: cold isostatic or die pressing then hot pressing/SPS at 1800–2100 °C, or pressureless sintering above 2200 °C with C/B or metal aids; slip and tape casting are used for thin UHTC layers.
TaC chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| C (total)stoichiometric TaC = 6.22 wt% C | 6 – 6.4 | 6.2 |
| C (free)free/uncombined carbon in powder grades | ≤ 0.2 | 0.08 |
| Ooxygen pickup on fine powder | ≤ 0.3 | 0.15 |
| N | ≤ 0.1 | 0.03 |
| NbNb is the main natural companion of Ta; higher in TaC-NbC mixed grades | ≤ 0.5 | 0.15 |
| Fe | ≤ 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Ta≈93.8 wt% at stoichiometry | balance |
What surface finishes work on TaC?
Diamond lapping gives a mirror, dark grey metallic surface; no plating or anodizing — for oxidizing service apply SiC/HfC-bearing or CVD coatings.
How much does TaC cost?
TaC is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
TaC — frequently asked
What is TaC used for?
TaC is typically used for cemented carbide tool grain refiner, rocket nozzle throat inserts, wear-resistant coatings and UHTC composites. In short: highest-melting carbide phase; densest of the carbides; EDM-capable ceramic.
Is TaC easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (5/100, worse than 59% of ceramic grades). Green machining before sintering is the practical route; fired TaC is finished only by diamond grinding, lapping or — thanks to its metallic conductivity — wire/sinker EDM.
Can TaC be welded?
Not weldable; joined by active brazing (Ti/Zr-bearing fillers), diffusion bonding to refractory metals, or co-sintering with a metal binder.
What surface finishes work on TaC?
Diamond lapping gives a mirror, dark grey metallic surface; no plating or anodizing — for oxidizing service apply SiC/HfC-bearing or CVD coatings.
Can TaC be formed, bent or molded?
Powder route only: cold isostatic or die pressing then hot pressing/SPS at 1800–2100 °C, or pressureless sintering above 2200 °C with C/B or metal aids; slip and tape casting are used for thin UHTC layers.
What is the maximum service temperature of TaC?
TaC is rated for continuous use to about 2,200°C (3,992 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does TaC cost?
TaC is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Handbook of Refractory Carbides and Nitrides — Noyes / William Andrew (H.O. Pierson) (1996)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- CRC Materials Science and Engineering Handbook — CRC Press (2016)
- Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics: TaC/HfC property compilations (J. Am. Ceram. Soc. review data) — American Ceramic Society (2018)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.