TiC PS (Pressureless sintered TiC)
Heat-treated state
Choose pressureless sintering with Ni/Co aid for lower cost and complex shapes, accepting 1–5 % residual porosity with slightly reduced strength and hardness.
Values for the PS condition
Other TiC tempers and conditions
TiC is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at TiC.
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 |
PSThis page 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 |
What is TiC PS?
TiC PS is TiC heat treated to PS — choose pressureless sintering with Ni/Co aid for lower cost and complex shapes, accepting 1–5 % residual porosity with slightly reduced strength and hardness. The elastic modulus is 400 GPa (58 Msi). TiC PS has a density of 4.8 g/cm³ (0.173 lb/in³), lighter than 52% of ceramic grades. It melts at 3,067°C (5,553 °F). HP is the default condition FabDigit quotes; PS is available on request or by drawing note.
TiC PS properties
Typical room-temperature values for TiC PS; 11 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are TiC reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among ceramic grades.
Physical3
TiC PS has a density of 4.8 g/cm³ (0.173 lb/in³), lighter than 52% of ceramic grades. It melts at 3,067°C (5,553 °F).
Mechanical10
The elastic modulus is 400 GPa (58 Msi).
Thermal5
TiC PS is rated for continuous service to 750°C (1,382 °F). It conducts heat at 19 W/m·K (11 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of ceramic grades. Thermal expansion is 7.7 µm/m·K (4.28 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
TiC PS 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 PS 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 PS's machinability is not recommended (4/100, worse than 85% of ceramic grades).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with TiC PS
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.
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.
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 | — |
TiC PS — frequently asked
What is TiC PS used for?
TiC PS 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 PS easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated not recommended (4/100, worse than 85% 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 PS 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 PS?
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 PS 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 PS?
TiC PS is rated for continuous use to about 750°C (1,382 °F). Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.