Application
Hafnium carbide (HfC) is a dark gray, brittle solid known for its outstanding refractoriness and structural stability. As one of the most refractory binary materials, HfC has a melting point of over 3900°C, making it ideal for extreme high-temperature applications. It has a high cross-section for the absorption of thermal neutrons, which enables its use in the control rods of nuclear reactors. Additionally, its exceptional hardness and resistance to thermal and chemical degradation make it suitable as a coating material in harsh environments. HfC is used in various industrial applications such as forming crucibles for melting hafnium oxide and other oxides. It can be synthesized by heating hafnium dioxide with lampblack under hydrogen at temperatures ranging from 1900°C to 2300°C. This robust material finds further utility in aerospace, where its remarkable heat resistance is leveraged in the construction of rocket nozzles and scramjet components. Furthermore, it plays a significant role in the ceramic industry and in the development of hard coatings, often applied via advanced methods like plasma spraying.