Titanium Carbide

Formula: TiC

Melting point: 3160 °C

Density: 4.93 g/cm3

Titanium carbide began to be studied systematically in the mid-20th century, in parallel with the development of ultrahard materials used in the metallurgical industry and in the production of cutting tools. The most widespread production process involves the carbothermic reduction of high-purity titanium oxides using coke or other carbon sources. In this procedure, titanium dioxide (TiO₂) reacts with carbon at high temperatures, generating TiC in the form of a fine powder. It is notable that the synthesis of TiC is even more direct and economical than the electrolytic reduction necessary to isolate metallic titanium, which explains its commercial availability in the international market for advanced materials. 

Titanium carbide stands out for its combination of extreme hardness, thermal stability, and corrosion resistance. Its cubic NaCl-type crystal structure provides great cohesion and an extraordinarily high melting point, making it a material of interest for applications under extreme temperature and pressure conditions. Despite its high hardness, it exhibits a certain fragility that limits its use compared to other carbides such as tungsten carbide (WC) or tantalum carbide (TaC). In high-speed steels (HSS), the solubility of titanium in the iron matrix is insufficient, which makes it difficult to directly incorporate significant proportions of TiC. For this reason, there has been a tendency to replace it with alternative compounds such as titanium nitride (TiN), which shows better compatibility and higher performance in protective coatings. 

Titanium carbide is used on a smaller scale than other metallic carbides, but it still has specific applications of great technological value. Its most common use is in cutting and machining tools, where its great hardness and abrasion resistance are exploited, although its relative fragility has limited its massive implementation. It is also used as an additive or dopant in composite materials, particularly in cemented tungsten carbide, where small quantities of TiC improve the corrosion resistance of the final product without significantly compromising its toughness. Furthermore, its application as a coating on parts exposed to aggressive environments has been investigated, as it confers notable chemical and thermal protection to the substrate. Contemporary research continues to explore the potential of TiC in emerging fields such as materials for nuclear reactors, coatings in aerospace components, and the additive manufacturing of ultradense composites.