The industrial importance of the refractory carbides and nitrides is growing rapidly, not only in the traditional and well-established applications based on the strength and refractory nature of these materials such as cutting tools and abrasives, but also in new and promising fields such as electronics and optoelectronics. Some typical applications are as follows:

• Silicon-nitride rotors, blades, rings, and burner tiles for gas turbines
• Tungsten-carbide cutting tools
• Titanium-nitride coatings on high-speed steel drill bits
• Silicon-carbide fibers and whiskers
• Boron-carbide abrasive blast nozzles
• Aluminum-nitride high thermal conductivity substrates for electronic circuits
• Silicon carbide burner tubes for gas furnaces
• Titanium nitride passivating and electrically insulating coatings for semiconductor devices
• Silicon carbide high-temperature semiconductor devices
• Silicon carbide blue light-emitting diode (LED)

The refractory carbides and nitrides are reviewed together in one book because:

• They form two families of closely related materials that have similar atomic structures and chemistry.
• Carbon and nitrogen are next to each other the second period of the Table of the Elements and, in many cases, the carbides and nitrides form solid solutions (known as carbonitrides).
• Many of their properties are similar.
• They have essentially the same processing characteristics and basically the same applications.
• In many respects, they complement each other.

The main objectives of this book can be summarized as follows:

• Provide a complete review of the structures and properties of refractory carbides and nitrides.
• Provide a thorough assessment of the technology, processing, and equipment and systems used in production and R&D, with emphasis on advanced designs.
• Identify and describe the applications, particularly new and emerging areas.

Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Refractory Carbides
3. Interstitial Carbides, Structure and Composition
4. Carbides of Group IV, Titanium, Zirconium, and Hafnium Carbides
5. Carbides of Group V, Vanadium, Niobium, and Tantalum Carbides
6. Carbides of Group VI, Chromium, Molybdenum, and Tungsten Carbides
7. Covalent Carbides, Structure and Composition
8. Characteristics and Properties of Silicon Carbide and Boron Carbides
9. The Refractory Nitrides
10. Interstitial Nitrides, Structure and Composition
11. Interstitial Nitrides, Properties and General Characteristics
12. Covalent Nitrides, Composition and Structure
13. Covalent Nitrides, Properties and General Characteristics
14. Processing of Refractory Carbides and Nitrides (Powder, Bulk, and Fibers)
15. Processing of Refractory Carbides and Nitrides (Coatings)
16. Applications of Refractory Carbides and Nitrides

Appendix: Conversion Guide

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