Characteristic
Zirconium carbide (ZrC) is an extremely hard refractory ceramic material, commercially used in tool bits for cutting tools. It is usually processed by sintering.
Chemical formula:ZrC
Molar mass:103.235 g/mol
Appearance:Gray refractory solid
Odor:Odorless
Density:6.73 g/cm3 (24 °C)
Melting point:3,532–3,540 °C (6,390–6,404 °F; 3,805–3,813 K)
Boiling point:5,100 °C (9,210 °F; 5,370 K)
Solubility in water:Insoluble
Solubility:Soluble in concentrated H2SO4, HF, HNO3
Crystal structure:Cubic, cF8
Application
Zirconium carbide commercially used in tool bits for cutting tools. It is used as an abrasive, in cladding, in cermets and incandescent filaments. It finds application in the coating of uranium dioxide and thorium dioxide particles of nuclear fuel as well as in thermo-photovoltaic radiators and field emitter tips and arrays. It is involved in the usage as refractory coatings in nuclear reactors.