{ "spore": "profile", "id": "vanadium-carbide", "spore_version": "0.2", "family": "carbide-nitride-boride-ceramics", "name": "Vanadium carbide", "abbreviation": "VC", "role": "hard refractory ceramic carbide, grain-growth inhibitor in tungsten carbide cobalt hardmetal and a hard carbide coating on tool steel", "category": "ceramics", "type": "carbides", "summary": "Vanadium carbide (VC, CAS 12070-10-9) is a hard refractory ceramic carbide. The Stanford Advanced Materials safety data sheet gives a melting point of 2810 °C for VC powder, and the Nanografi listing gives 2800 °C for its nanopowder. The steeldata handbook gives a Mohs hardness of 8 to 9 and a density of 5.4 g/cm3. As an additive, VC acts as a grain growth inhibitor in tungsten carbide cobalt parts during sintering.\n", "best_for": "Hard, high melting point carbide powder, used as a grain growth inhibitor in hardmetal and as a carbide coating on tool steel", "weakest_at": "Flammable as a powder (H228 in the supplier SDS), and no high-temperature oxidation data were found in a source read in this run", "identity": { "formula": "VC", "cas": "12070-10-9", "crystal_system": "cubic", "designations": [ { "system": "Trade name", "code": "VC HV 160", "note": "one powder grade name from one supplier, not a general name for VC", "source": "abcr-vc", "where": "Product title 'Vanadium Carbide VC HV 160 (Höganäs)'" } ], "source": "steeldata-vc", "where": "Page title 'Vanadium Carbide - VC' and 'Crystal structure: Isometric-normal: (100) cube' on the steeldata compounds page; CAS 12070-10-9 from Section 1 of the Stanford Advanced Materials SDS (sam-vc-sds)" }, "tags": { "environments": [], "stresses": [ "extreme-heat" ], "applications": [ "structures" ] }, "properties": [ { "benchmark": "melting_point", "label": "Melting point, VC powder (supplier SDS)", "value": 2810, "bound": "exact", "unit": "degC", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "powder, as sold" }, "method": "Section 9, Melting point/Melting range row, printed as 2810 °C (5090 °F)", "status": "ground", "source": "sam-vc-sds", "where": "Section 9 (Physical and chemical properties), Melting point/Melting range row", "source_detail": { "title": "Stanford Advanced Materials, Safety Data Sheet, Vanadium Carbide Powder (CAS 12070-10-9, revised 23/01/2023)", "url": "https://powder.samaterials.com/tds/sc/1733457162-Vanadium%20Carbide%20Powder.pdf", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier document, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "melting_point", "label": "Melting point, VC nanopowder (supplier listing)", "value": 2800, "bound": "exact", "unit": "degC", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "nanopowder, average particle size 550 to 750 nm as listed" }, "method": "Product specifications list, Melting point row, printed as 2800 °C", "status": "ground", "note": "The SDS gives 2810 °C for a different VC powder. Both values are recorded side by side.", "source": "nanografi-vc", "where": "Product specifications, Melting point row", "source_detail": { "title": "Nanografi, Vanadium carbide (VC) nanopowder, purity 99.95%, size 550 to 750 nm, cubic", "url": "https://shop.nanografi.com/nanoparticles/vanadium-carbide-vc-nanopowder-nanoparticles-purity-99-95-size-550-750-nm-cubic/", "kind": "web", "license": "supplier web page, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "boiling_point", "label": "Boiling point (steeldata handbook)", "value": 3900, "bound": "exact", "unit": "degC", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "basis": "value as printed on the steeldata page; no test condition stated" }, "method": "Printed as \"Boiling point (C)\" 3900 on the compounds page", "status": "ground", "note": "The supplier SDS gives \"No data available\" for boiling point, so this value is single-sourced.", "source": "steeldata-vc", "where": "Physical data table, Boiling point row", "source_detail": { "title": "SteelData compounds reference, Vanadium Carbide - VC (melting point, density, hardness, crystal structure, boiling point)", "url": "https://steeldata.info/etch/demo/help/compounds/159.html", "kind": "handbook", "license": "web page, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "density", "label": "Density (steeldata handbook)", "value": 5.4, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/cm3", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "temperature": "not printed on the page" }, "method": "Printed as \"Density (g/cm3)\" 5.4 on the compounds page", "status": "ground", "note": "The supplier SDS gives \"No data available\" for density, and a supplier listing gives 5.770 g/ml for another grade (see the next row).", "source": "steeldata-vc", "where": "Physical data table, Density row", "source_detail": { "title": "SteelData compounds reference, Vanadium Carbide - VC (melting point, density, hardness, crystal structure, boiling point)", "url": "https://steeldata.info/etch/demo/help/compounds/159.html", "kind": "handbook", "license": "web page, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "density", "label": "Density, VC HV 160 powder (supplier listing)", "value": 5.77, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/ml", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "powder, VC HV 160 grade", "temperature": "not printed on the listing" }, "method": "Printed as 5.770 g/ml on the listing; the trailing zero is dropped here", "status": "ground", "note": "A catalogue value for one grade, not a measured bulk density.", "source": "abcr-vc", "where": "Product data, Density row", "source_detail": { "title": "abcr product AB152297, Vanadium Carbide VC HV 160 (Höganäs), CAS 12070-10-9", "url": "https://abcr.com/ch_en/ab152297", "kind": "database", "license": "supplier catalogue entry, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "bulk_density_powder", "label": "Bulk density, micro VC powder (100 µm grade, as listed)", "value": 1.21, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/cm3", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "micro VC powder, 100 micrometre grade", "state": "bulk, as listed" }, "method": "Printed as \"Bulk Density 1.21 g/cm3\" in the specification section", "status": "ground", "note": "A powder property of this product grade, not a property of dense VC.", "source": "samaterials-vc-micro", "where": "Specification section, Bulk Density row", "source_detail": { "title": "Stanford Advanced Materials, Micro Vanadium Carbide (VC) Powder 100 µm specification page", "url": "https://www.samaterials.com/micro-nano-materials/210-micro-vanadium-carbide.html", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier web page, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "tap_density_powder", "label": "Tap density, micro VC powder (100 µm grade, as listed)", "value": 3.36, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/cm3", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "micro VC powder, 100 micrometre grade", "state": "tapped, as listed" }, "method": "Printed as \"Tap Density 3.36 g/cm3\" in the specification section", "status": "ground", "source": "samaterials-vc-micro", "where": "Specification section, Tap Density row", "source_detail": { "title": "Stanford Advanced Materials, Micro Vanadium Carbide (VC) Powder 100 µm specification page", "url": "https://www.samaterials.com/micro-nano-materials/210-micro-vanadium-carbide.html", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier web page, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "specific_surface_area", "label": "Specific surface area, micro VC powder (100 µm grade)", "value": 36, "bound": "exact", "unit": "m2/g", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "micro VC powder, 100 micrometre grade" }, "method": "Printed as \"Specific Surface Area 36 m2/g\" in the specification section", "status": "ground", "source": "samaterials-vc-micro", "where": "Specification section, Specific Surface Area row", "source_detail": { "title": "Stanford Advanced Materials, Micro Vanadium Carbide (VC) Powder 100 µm specification page", "url": "https://www.samaterials.com/micro-nano-materials/210-micro-vanadium-carbide.html", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier web page, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "hardness", "label": "Hardness, Mohs scratch scale (steeldata handbook)", "value": 8, "value_high": 9, "bound": "range", "unit": "Mohs", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "test": "scratch, as printed on the steeldata page (label 'Hardness (Mosh-scratch)')" }, "method": "Printed as 8-9 on the compounds page", "status": "ground", "note": "Mohs is a scratch scale, not a load-based hardness. The name 'hardness' is a custom property name, as in the TaC profile.", "source": "steeldata-vc", "where": "Physical data table, Hardness row", "source_detail": { "title": "SteelData compounds reference, Vanadium Carbide - VC (melting point, density, hardness, crystal structure, boiling point)", "url": "https://steeldata.info/etch/demo/help/compounds/159.html", "kind": "handbook", "license": "web page, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "hardness", "label": "Vickers microhardness, VC layer on AISI D3 steel", "value": 2400, "bound": "exact", "unit": "HV", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "carbide layer formed on AISI D3 tool steel by pack thermo-reactive diffusion", "test": "average microhardness as printed in the abstract" }, "method": "Printed as 2400 HV in the abstract", "status": "ground", "note": "A coating on steel, not bulk VC. The abstract names the steel AISI 03 while the title says AISI D3, probably a typo.", "source": "erciyes-vc-coating", "where": "Abstract", "source_detail": { "title": "Kurt B, Onder E, Carboga C, Demirel B, Characterization and Kinetics of VC Coatings on AISI D3 Steel Performed by Thermo-Reactive Diffusion Technique, Practical Metallography 51(1), 2014", "url": "https://avesis.erciyes.edu.tr/yayin/7e8159de-fe8f-4670-bc7a-4d215ace540f/characterization-and-kinetics-of-vc-coatings-on-aisi-d3-steel-performed-by-thermo-reactive-diffusion-technique", "kind": "paper", "license": "publisher record, not verified as open access" } }, { "benchmark": "particle_size", "label": "Particle size, VC nanopowder (average, supplier listing)", "value": 550, "value_high": 750, "bound": "range", "unit": "nm", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "nanopowder listing, average particle size" }, "method": "Printed as 550-750 nm (average) in the product specifications", "status": "ground", "source": "nanografi-vc", "where": "Product specifications, Particle size row", "source_detail": { "title": "Nanografi, Vanadium carbide (VC) nanopowder, purity 99.95%, size 550 to 750 nm, cubic", "url": "https://shop.nanografi.com/nanoparticles/vanadium-carbide-vc-nanopowder-nanoparticles-purity-99-95-size-550-750-nm-cubic/", "kind": "web", "license": "supplier web page, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "particle_size", "label": "Particle size, VC HV 160 powder (Fisher FSSS, supplier listing)", "value": 1.3, "value_high": 2, "bound": "range", "unit": "µm", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "method_name": "Fisher FSSS", "form": "powder, VC HV 160 grade" }, "method": "Printed as 1.3 - 2.0 micron (Fisher, FSSS); micron is written as µm here", "status": "ground", "source": "abcr-vc", "where": "Product data, Particle size (Fisher, FSSS) row", "source_detail": { "title": "abcr product AB152297, Vanadium Carbide VC HV 160 (Höganäs), CAS 12070-10-9", "url": "https://abcr.com/ch_en/ab152297", "kind": "database", "license": "supplier catalogue entry, cited not reproduced" } }, { "benchmark": "molecular_weight", "label": "Molecular weight, VC HV 160 (supplier listing)", "value": 62.95, "bound": "exact", "unit": "g/mol", "scope": "material", "conditions": { "form": "listed as formula CV on the listing" }, "method": "Printed as 62.95 g/mol on the listing", "status": "ground", "note": "The listing prints the formula as CV; the formula is written here as VC.", "source": "abcr-vc", "where": "Product data, Molecular weight row", "source_detail": { "title": "abcr product AB152297, Vanadium Carbide VC HV 160 (Höganäs), CAS 12070-10-9", "url": "https://abcr.com/ch_en/ab152297", "kind": "database", "license": "supplier catalogue entry, cited not reproduced" } } ], "corrosion": [ { "environment": "Water", "headline": "VC is insoluble in water, according to the supplier safety data sheet.", "effect": "The SDS lists solubility in water as insoluble. No corrosion test of VC in water was read.", "rating": "none", "conditions": { "medium": "water", "temperature": "not stated" }, "source": "sam-vc-sds", "where": "Section 9, Solubility in Water row" }, { "environment": "Oxidizing agents", "headline": "The SDS lists oxidizing agents as incompatible with VC powder. No test data were read.", "effect": "The SDS lists oxidizing agents under incompatible materials, and carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and metal oxide fume as hazardous decomposition products. No reaction rate or ageing data were found.", "rating": "unknown", "conditions": { "basis": "incompatibility statement only, no test" }, "source": "sam-vc-sds", "where": "Section 10 (Stability and reactivity), Incompatible materials and Hazardous decomposition products" } ], "risks": { "hazards": [ { "text": "The Stanford Advanced Materials SDS for VC powder (CAS 12070-10-9) classifies it as a flammable solid, H228, with signal word Warning. The same SDS lists H315 (causes skin irritation), H319 (causes serious eye irritation) and H335 (may cause respiratory irritation).", "ghs": [ "H228", "H315", "H319", "H335" ], "source": "sam-vc-sds", "where": "Section 2 (Hazards identification), hazard statements" }, { "text": "The abcr listing for the VC HV 160 grade gives the hazard codes H302, H312 and H332 with signal word Warning. The listing prints codes only, and its set differs from the SDS above, so check the safety data sheet for the grade you buy.", "ghs": [ "H302", "H312", "H332" ], "source": "abcr-vc", "where": "Product data, Hazard statements row" }, { "text": "Transport: UN3178, Flammable solid, inorganic, n.o.s. (Vanadium carbide), class 4.1, packing group III, per the SDS.", "ghs": [], "source": "sam-vc-sds", "where": "Section 14 (Transport information)" } ], "failure_risks": [ { "mode": "Ignition of VC powder", "trigger": "Heat, sparks, open flame or an electrostatic charge near the powder", "consequence": "The SDS classes the powder as a flammable solid and advises protection against electrostatic charges.", "severity": "moderate", "source": "sam-vc-sds", "where": "Section 2 and Section 7 (protection against electrostatic charges)" }, { "mode": "Respiratory and eye irritation from airborne powder", "trigger": "Dust released during handling", "consequence": "The SDS classes the powder as causing skin irritation, serious eye irritation and respiratory irritation (H315, H319, H335).", "severity": "low", "source": "sam-vc-sds", "where": "Section 2, hazard statements" } ], "side_effects": [], "handling": [ { "text": "Keep the container tightly sealed, in a cool, dry place with good ventilation, and protect the powder against electrostatic charges (SDS Section 7).", "source": "sam-vc-sds", "where": "Section 7 (Handling and storage)" }, { "text": "Store away from oxidizing agents (SDS Section 7).", "source": "sam-vc-sds", "where": "Section 7, Conditions for safe storage" } ], "mitigations": [ { "text": "Keep away from heat, sparks and open flames (SDS precautionary statement P210).", "source": "sam-vc-sds", "where": "Section 2, precautionary statements" } ] }, "uses": [ { "application": "structures", "device": "Tungsten carbide cobalt parts (hardmetal), used as a grain growth inhibitor", "example": "A study of tungsten carbide cobalt parts made by micro-powder injection molding says that VC acted as a grain growth inhibitor during sintering, thereby improving the mechanical properties.", "source": "ukm-wc-vc", "where": "Abstract, final sentences" }, { "application": "structures", "device": "Hard carbide coating on AISI D3 tool steel (laboratory study)", "example": "A study of VC coatings on AISI D3 steel reports an average microhardness of 2400 HV for the carbide layer, formed by thermo-reactive diffusion in a solid pack. It is a laboratory coating result, not a field record.", "source": "erciyes-vc-coating", "where": "Abstract" } ], "supply": [ { "subject": "Vanadium (vanadium content of world mine output)", "abundance": "Crustal abundance not found in a source read in this run. The USGS vanadium chapter does not give one.", "producers": [ { "country": "China", "share_percent": 72.4, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Russia", "share_percent": 18.5, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "Brazil", "share_percent": 4.7, "year": 2025 }, { "country": "South Africa", "share_percent": 4.4, "year": 2025 } ], "critical_lists": [ { "list": "EU critical raw materials list (European Commission page lists Vanadium)", "listed": true } ], "recycling": "USGS: recycling of vanadium is mainly associated with reprocessing vanadium catalysts into new catalysts.", "substitutes": [ "USGS: certain metals, such as manganese, molybdenum, niobium, titanium and tungsten, are to some degree interchangeable with vanadium as alloying elements in steel; no acceptable substitute for vanadium is available for use in aerospace titanium alloys." ], "source": "usgs-mcs2026-vanadium", "where": "World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025e column (vanadium content, metric tons; China 82,000 estimated, Russia 21,000, Brazil 5,300, South Africa 5,000). Shares calculated by Space Mushroom against the sum of these four figures (113,300), because the printed world total of 110,000 does not equal that sum. Recycling; Substitutes. EU list on the European Commission page." } ], "media": [], "documents": [ { "title": "Stanford Advanced Materials, Safety Data Sheet, Vanadium Carbide Powder (CAS 12070-10-9, revised 23/01/2023)", "type": "sds", "url": "https://powder.samaterials.com/tds/sc/1733457162-Vanadium%20Carbide%20Powder.pdf", "year": 2023 }, { "title": "Nanografi, Vanadium carbide (VC) nanopowder product page", "type": "datasheet", "url": "https://shop.nanografi.com/nanoparticles/vanadium-carbide-vc-nanopowder-nanoparticles-purity-99-95-size-550-750-nm-cubic/" }, { "title": "abcr, Vanadium Carbide VC HV 160 (Höganäs), product AB152297", "type": "database", "url": "https://abcr.com/ch_en/ab152297" }, { "title": "Stanford Advanced Materials, Micro Vanadium Carbide (VC) Powder 100 µm product page", "type": "datasheet", "url": "https://www.samaterials.com/micro-nano-materials/210-micro-vanadium-carbide.html" }, { "title": "Wong Yee Ning et al., Effects of Vanadium Carbide on Sintered WC-10%Co Produced by Micro-powder Injection Molding, Sains Malaysiana 44(8), 2015", "type": "paper", "url": "https://ukm.my/jsm/english_journals/vol44num8_2015/vol44num8_2015pg1175-1181.htm", "year": 2015 }, { "title": "Kurt B. et al., Characterization and Kinetics of VC Coatings on AISI D3 Steel Performed by Thermo-Reactive Diffusion Technique, Practical Metallography 51(1), 2014", "type": "paper", "url": "https://avesis.erciyes.edu.tr/yayin/7e8159de-fe8f-4670-bc7a-4d215ace540f/characterization-and-kinetics-of-vc-coatings-on-aisi-d3-steel-performed-by-thermo-reactive-diffusion-technique", "year": 2014 }, { "title": "USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Vanadium", "type": "report", "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-vanadium.pdf", "year": 2026 } ], "gaps": [ "No crustal abundance for vanadium was found in a source read in this run, so the abundance line is left open.", "Vanadium's USGS 2025 critical-minerals status is not stated in the USGS vanadium chapter read in this run, so only the EU list entry is recorded.", "The USGS mine-production table's 2025e components (113,300 t) do not sum to the printed world total (110,000 t); shares are calculated against the component sum and flagged as approximate.", "No primary source for the bulk density, melting point or hardness of dense VC was read; the melting points (2810 and 2800 °C) and the density values (5.4 g/cm3 and 5.77 g/ml) come from different grades or listings and are recorded as printed.", "A 2016 Materials & Design paper (Blackburn et al., open access) gives a VC melting point in kelvin and a Vickers hardness; it could not be opened (host not reachable), so its values are not recorded.", "PubChem CID 159387 is returned for vanadium carbide, but its record gives the molecular formula CH4V and a mixed-name record, so it is not used for identity, formula or hazard data.", "Oxidation resistance in air, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion, elastic modulus and electrical resistivity for VC were not found in a source read in this run. The Wikipedia elastic modulus figure cites a 1974 paper that was not read, so it is not recorded.", "The hardness of 2400 HV is for a VC layer on steel, not bulk VC. The Mohs scale value is the only bulk hardness recorded.", "The hazard codes conflict: the Samaterials SDS gives H228, H315, H319 and H335, while the abcr listing for the VC HV 160 grade gives H302, H312 and H332. Both are recorded; no third source was read.", "No UNS, EN, DIN, JIS, AISI or ASTM designation for VC was printed in a source read in this run. Only the trade name VC HV 160 and the CAS number are recorded.", "Atomic weights for vanadium and carbon are not recorded because no source giving them was read in this run.", "Composite results from the Sains Malaysiana study (WC-10%Co with VC additions) are not recorded as properties of VC, only as a use.", "The American Elements VC page returned HTTP 403, so its theoretical density and melting point values are not recorded.", "Custom property names used because they are not in spores/property-canon.yaml: hardness, bulk_density_powder, tap_density_powder, specific_surface_area, particle_size, molecular_weight." ], "story": { "why": "Vanadium carbide (VC, CAS 12070-10-9) is a hard refractory ceramic carbide. Its supplier SDS gives a melting point of 2810 °C for VC powder. Two uses are documented in the sources read here: a grain growth inhibitor in tungsten carbide cobalt hardmetal, and a hard carbide coating on tool steel in a laboratory study. The main limits are the powder's flammable-solid classification and the absence of high-temperature oxidation data in the sources read here.", "uses": [ { "where": "Grain growth inhibitor in tungsten carbide cobalt hardmetal", "line": "A study of tungsten carbide cobalt parts made by micro-powder injection molding says that VC acted as a grain growth inhibitor during sintering, thereby improving the mechanical properties." }, { "where": "Hard carbide coating on tool steel (laboratory study)", "line": "A study of VC coatings on AISI D3 steel reports an average microhardness of 2400 HV for the carbide layer. The layer was formed by thermo-reactive diffusion in a solid pack, and the study is a laboratory result, not a field record." } ], "can_do": [ { "label": "Melting", "line": "the SDS gives a melting point of 2810 °C for VC powder, and the Nanografi listing gives 2800 °C for its nanopowder.", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Hardness", "line": "the steeldata handbook gives a Mohs hardness of 8 to 9 on the scratch scale. A VC layer on AISI D3 steel reached 2400 HV in a laboratory study.", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Density", "line": "5.4 g/cm3 in the steeldata handbook, and 5.77 g/ml in one supplier listing for the VC HV 160 grade.", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Grain control", "line": "in tungsten carbide cobalt parts, VC acts as a grain growth inhibitor during sintering.", "scope": "material" } ], "compare": "VC is a hard carbide with a high melting point, and within this collection it belongs with the other refractory carbides. The sources read here give VC's own values, but no side-by-side figure for another carbide was read in this run, so the comparison is qualitative. The compare table lists VC's melting point, density and hardness.", "compare_rows": [ { "label": "Melting point", "benchmark": "melting_point", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Density", "benchmark": "density", "scope": "material" }, { "label": "Hardness", "benchmark": "hardness", "scope": "material" } ], "handling": [ "Keep away from heat, sparks and open flames, and protect the powder against electrostatic charges (SDS).", "Store in a cool, dry place in tightly closed containers, away from oxidizing agents (SDS Section 7).", "The SDS classes the powder as a respiratory irritant (H335), so control dust." ], "good_for": [ "High melting point. The SDS gives 2810 °C for the powder, and the nanopowder listing gives 2800 °C.", "Hard coatings. In a laboratory study, a VC layer on AISI D3 tool steel reached 2400 HV.", "Grain control in hardmetal. VC acts as a grain growth inhibitor in tungsten carbide cobalt parts." ], "watch_out": [ "Flammable as a powder (H228). Keep it away from ignition sources.", "Hazard codes differ between sources: H228, H315, H319 and H335 in one SDS, and H302, H312 and H332 in a listing for another grade.", "No high-temperature oxidation data for VC were found in a source read in this run, so the only chemical limit recorded is incompatibility with oxidizing agents." ], "verdict": "Vanadium carbide is a hard, high melting point carbide whose best documented roles are grain control in hardmetal and hard coatings. Its powder is a flammable solid, and the sources read here leave oxidation and bulk property data open.", "recipe": { "line": "Vanadium carbide is a compound of vanadium and carbon, written VC (steeldata). Wikipedia says it is made by heating vanadium oxides with carbon, and that VC samples typically contain some oxide impurity because VC and the vanadium monoxide are miscible.", "parts": [ { "name": "Vanadium", "symbol": "V", "role": "The metal atom in the carbide. Vanadium carbide's high melting point and hardness come from strong vanadium-carbon bonding." }, { "name": "Carbon", "symbol": "C", "role": "The non-metal atom in the lattice; the carbon stoichiometry sets the composition of the powder." } ] }, "risk_groups": [ { "title": "For people", "lead": "The supplier SDS classifies VC powder as a flammable solid and as an irritant. A second supplier's listing for another grade gives different hazard codes.", "points": [ { "label": "The powder", "line": "The SDS gives H228 (flammable solid), H315 (causes skin irritation), H319 (causes serious eye irritation) and H335 (may cause respiratory irritation), with the signal word Warning." }, { "label": "Electrostatic charge", "line": "The SDS advises protecting the powder against electrostatic charges." }, { "label": "Transport", "line": "UN3178 applies, class 4.1, packing group III, according to SDS Section 14." } ], "level": 0, "verdict": "Flammable solid (H228) per supplier SDS" }, { "title": "Handling and storage", "lead": "These points come from the supplier SDS, not from field incidents.", "points": [ { "label": "Storage", "line": "The SDS calls for a tightly closed container in a cool, dry place with good ventilation, away from oxidizing agents." }, { "label": "In a fire", "line": "The SDS lists carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and metal oxide fume as decomposition products." } ] } ] }, "updated": "2026-11-01", "review": { "status": "draft", "method": "assistant", "checked_values": 13, "unreachable": 3, "caveats": 6, "note": "Written in this run from the Stanford Advanced Materials SDS (revised 2023), the steeldata compounds page, two supplier listings (Nanografi, abcr), a Stanford Advanced Materials micro-powder page, the Sains Malaysiana 2015 WC-10%Co paper, a 2014 VC coating paper (abstract), the USGS MCS 2026 vanadium chapter and the European Commission critical raw materials page. Wikipedia is used for composition and preparation only. The Kingston Blackburn paper, the American Elements page and the Nature paper were not reachable." }, "sources": { "sam-vc-sds": { "title": "Stanford Advanced Materials, Safety Data Sheet, Vanadium Carbide Powder (CAS 12070-10-9, revised 23/01/2023)", "url": "https://powder.samaterials.com/tds/sc/1733457162-Vanadium%20Carbide%20Powder.pdf", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier document, cited not reproduced" }, "steeldata-vc": { "title": "SteelData compounds reference, Vanadium Carbide - VC (melting point, density, hardness, crystal structure, boiling point)", "url": "https://steeldata.info/etch/demo/help/compounds/159.html", "kind": "handbook", "license": "web page, cited not reproduced" }, "nanografi-vc": { "title": "Nanografi, Vanadium carbide (VC) nanopowder, purity 99.95%, size 550 to 750 nm, cubic", "url": "https://shop.nanografi.com/nanoparticles/vanadium-carbide-vc-nanopowder-nanoparticles-purity-99-95-size-550-750-nm-cubic/", "kind": "web", "license": "supplier web page, cited not reproduced" }, "abcr-vc": { "title": "abcr product AB152297, Vanadium Carbide VC HV 160 (Höganäs), CAS 12070-10-9", "url": "https://abcr.com/ch_en/ab152297", "kind": "database", "license": "supplier catalogue entry, cited not reproduced" }, "samaterials-vc-micro": { "title": "Stanford Advanced Materials, Micro Vanadium Carbide (VC) Powder 100 µm specification page", "url": "https://www.samaterials.com/micro-nano-materials/210-micro-vanadium-carbide.html", "kind": "datasheet", "license": "supplier web page, cited not reproduced" }, "erciyes-vc-coating": { "title": "Kurt B, Onder E, Carboga C, Demirel B, Characterization and Kinetics of VC Coatings on AISI D3 Steel Performed by Thermo-Reactive Diffusion Technique, Practical Metallography 51(1), 2014", "url": "https://avesis.erciyes.edu.tr/yayin/7e8159de-fe8f-4670-bc7a-4d215ace540f/characterization-and-kinetics-of-vc-coatings-on-aisi-d3-steel-performed-by-thermo-reactive-diffusion-technique", "kind": "paper", "license": "publisher record, not verified as open access" }, "ukm-wc-vc": { "title": "Wong Yee Ning, Muhamad N, Sulong AB, Fayyaz A, Raza MR, Effects of Vanadium Carbide on Sintered WC-10%Co Produced by Micro-powder Injection Molding, Sains Malaysiana 44(8), 2015", "url": "https://ukm.my/jsm/english_journals/vol44num8_2015/vol44num8_2015pg1175-1181.htm", "kind": "paper", "license": "journal page, open-access status not confirmed" }, "usgs-mcs2026-vanadium": { "title": "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Vanadium", "url": "https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-vanadium.pdf", "kind": "report", "license": "public domain (USGS)" }, "ec-crm": { "title": "Critical raw materials (European Commission page listing 34 critical raw materials, including Vanadium)", "url": "https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/raw-materials/areas-specific-interest/critical-raw-materials_en", "kind": "web", "license": "European Commission web page" }, "wikipedia-vc": { "title": "Wikipedia, Vanadium carbide (composition and preparation only)", "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanadium_carbide", "kind": "web", "license": "CC BY-SA 4.0" } }, "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "url": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/vanadium-carbide/" }