TiC
TiC is a transition-metal carbide ceramic with high hardness and a high melting point, 445 GPa elastic modulus, 4.93 g/cm³ density and low thermal conductivity of 21 W/m·K.
Reference datasheet — TiC 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
TiC tempers and conditions
TiC 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TiC–Ni–Mo cermet (typ. 60–80 % TiC, Ni+Mo binder) | Choose for tooling and dies where the Ni+Mo binder phase raises fracture toughness about threefold at a slight loss of hardness, with 60–80 % carbide giving 400 GPa modulus up to 900 °C. | 1,600 HV | 22 W/m·K | |||
Pressureless sintered TiC | Choose pressureless sintering with Ni/Co aid for lower cost and complex shapes, accepting 1–5 % residual porosity with slightly reduced strength and hardness. | 2,700 HV | 19 W/m·K | |||
HPDefault Hot-pressed dense TiC | Default hot-pressed dense block at ≥99 % purity for wear components, electrodes and laboratory reference data where baseline properties are needed. | 3,000 HV | 21 W/m·K |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways TiC 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 | TiC powder feedstock | Supply form |
CVD | CVD TiC coating | Coating |
What is TiC?
TiC is a transition-metal carbide ceramic with high hardness and a high melting point, 445 GPa elastic modulus, 4.93 g/cm³ density and low thermal conductivity of 21 W/m·K. Engineers use it as a reinforcing phase in cermets and as a hard coating, and it is combined with Ni/Mo binders in TiC-based cermet cutting tools; stock forms are hot-pressed and pressureless-sintered parts, Ni-Mo cermet grades, CVD coatings and powder. It is lighter than WC-Co but not tough, oxidizes in air so continuous service is limited to about 800 °C, and finished shapes can only be diamond ground or EDM'd. WC-Co grades are the usual alternative when impact toughness governs. TiC has a density of 4.93 g/cm³ (0.178 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of ceramic grades. It melts at 3,067°C (5,553 °F). The elastic modulus is 445 GPa (64.5 Msi).
What is TiC used for?
- cermet cutting inserts
- wear-resistant coatings
- hardfacing additive
- TiCN tool coatings
TiC properties
Typical room-temperature values for TiC-HP; bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
TiC has a density of 4.93 g/cm³ (0.178 lb/in³), heavier than 51% of ceramic grades. It melts at 3,067°C (5,553 °F).
Mechanical10
The elastic modulus is 445 GPa (64.5 Msi).
Thermal5
TiC is rated for continuous service to 800°C (1,472 °F). It conducts heat at 21 W/m·K (12.1 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 52% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 7.7 µm/m·K (4.28 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
TiC has an electrical resistivity of 5.2×10⁻⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental2
Corrosion resistance is very good (70/100), worse than 59% of ceramic grades.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of TiC takes about 150 MJ of energy and emits 14 kg of CO₂ — more than 58% of ceramic grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability3
TiC's machinability is not recommended (3/100, worse than 95% 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. TiC is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with TiC
Is TiC easy to machine?
After sintering, only diamond wheel grinding or lapping is practical; because TiC is electrically conductive, wire and sinker EDM can be used for complex profiles.
Can TiC be welded?
Not fusion weldable; join to metals by active brazing with Ti/Zr-based fillers, or co-sinter with the Ni/Mo binder phase.
Can TiC be formed, bent or molded?
Powder metallurgy route: die pressing or isostatic pressing followed by vacuum or inert-atmosphere sintering at 1900–2200 °C, or hot pressing/SPS at 1800–2000 °C; Ni-Mo bonded cermet grades are liquid-phase sintered at about 1450 °C.
TiC 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cstoichiometric TiC = 20.05 wt% C; TiC_x (x=0.6-1.0) common | 19 – 20.1 | 19.9 |
| Free Cfree carbon, typical control value | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| Ooxygen content of the powder | ≤ 0.5 | 0.2 |
| N | ≤ 0.3 | 0.1 |
| Ti | balance |
What surface finishes work on TiC?
Diamond lapping and polishing give a mirror finish; as a functional coating it is deposited by CVD at about 1000 °C or by PVD, where thermal expansion mismatch with the substrate can cause coating spallation.
How much does TiC cost?
TiC is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
TiC — frequently asked
What is TiC used for?
TiC is typically used for cermet cutting inserts, wear-resistant coatings, hardfacing additive and tiCN tool coatings. In short: lighter than WC carbides; cermet and coating carbide; EDM-machinable hard carbide.
Is TiC easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (3/100, worse than 95% of ceramic grades). After sintering, only diamond wheel grinding or lapping is practical; because TiC is electrically conductive, wire and sinker EDM can be used for complex profiles.
Can TiC be welded?
Not fusion weldable; join to metals by active brazing with Ti/Zr-based fillers, or co-sinter with the Ni/Mo binder phase.
What surface finishes work on TiC?
Diamond lapping and polishing give a mirror finish; as a functional coating it is deposited by CVD at about 1000 °C or by PVD, where thermal expansion mismatch with the substrate can cause coating spallation.
Can TiC be formed, bent or molded?
Powder metallurgy route: die pressing or isostatic pressing followed by vacuum or inert-atmosphere sintering at 1900–2200 °C, or hot pressing/SPS at 1800–2000 °C; Ni-Mo bonded cermet grades are liquid-phase sintered at about 1450 °C.
What is the maximum service temperature of TiC?
TiC is rated for continuous use to about 800°C (1,472 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does TiC cost?
TiC is a high-cost ceramic ($$$$), 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
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.4: Ceramics and Glasses — ASM International (1991)
- Transition Metal Carbides and Nitrides — properties compilation — Academic literature (1971)
- TiC powder and TiC-based cermet datasheets — H.C. Starck / (2023)
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.