Tantalum carbides (TaC), niobium carbides (NbC) and their mixed carbides (Ta,Nb)C improve the performance of carbide cutting tools. Tantalum niobium carbides contribute significantly to improving the oxidation resistance, hot hardness, thermal resistance, and wear resistance of tools used in steel processing. Tantalum niobium carbides from H.C. Starck Tungsten Powders are primarily used in concentrations of 2 to 8 percent in the manufacture of hardmetals for steel processing in the ISO P application group. They are also used in concentrations of approximately 0.2 to 2 percent as grain growth inhibitors in hardmetals made of tungsten carbide cobalt (WC-Co).
Properties of tantalum and niobium
The tantalum carbides, niobium carbides, and tantalum niobium carbides from H.C. Starck Tungsten Powders have an especially narrow grain-size distribution and an extremely low level of impurity. H.C. Starck offers binary mixed carbide powders with ratios between (Ta,Nb)C 90/10 and (Ta,Nb)C 50/50.
Applications for tantalum and niobium carbide
Cutting tools
- Additive to hardmetals for steel machinery
- Grain growth inhibitor in hardmetals
Other applications
- Semi-finished products
- Cermets
- Roll rings
Summary table
Tantalum carbide TaC, niobium carbide NbC, and tantalum niobium carbides (Ta,Nb)C are deliverable as TaC, TaNbC 90/10, TaNbC 80/20, TaNbC 75/25, TaNbC 70/30, TaNbC 67/33, TaNbC60/40, TaNbC 50/50, and NbC.
| HGS varieties | TaC, NbC, TaNbC with narrow and homogeneous grain size distribution | 0.7 - 1.3 µm |
Conflict-free tantalum supply
H.C. Starck Tungsten Powders processes only raw materials from ethically acceptable, conflict-free sources. The same goes for tantalum procurement and processing. We procure only raw materials that meet the guidelines of the OECD (“Due Diligence Guidelines for Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas”). Our raw material suppliers are certified through the Conflict-Free Smelter (CFS) Validation Program of the independent Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI).
Your contact partner at H.C. Starck Tungsten Powders
Rob Scott
Tel. +1 (519) 346–4300–4362
rob.scott@hcstarck.com
Download product data sheet
Tantalum and niobium carbide powders – downloads
Download the product data sheets for our tantalum and niobium carbide powders directly here or visit our download area.
