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.
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
  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)'
  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)'
tags:
  environments: []
  stresses:
    - extreme-heat
  applications:
    - structures
properties:
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting point, VC powder (supplier SDS)
    value: 2810
    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
  - benchmark: melting_point
    label: Melting point, VC nanopowder (supplier listing)
    value: 2800
    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
  - benchmark: boiling_point
    label: Boiling point (steeldata handbook)
    value: 3900
    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
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density (steeldata handbook)
    value: 5.4
    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
  - benchmark: density
    label: Density, VC HV 160 powder (supplier listing)
    value: 5.77
    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
  - benchmark: bulk_density_powder
    label: Bulk density, micro VC powder (100 µm grade, as listed)
    value: 1.21
    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
  - benchmark: tap_density_powder
    label: Tap density, micro VC powder (100 µm grade, as listed)
    value: 3.36
    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
  - benchmark: specific_surface_area
    label: Specific surface area, micro VC powder (100 µm grade)
    value: 36
    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
  - 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
  - benchmark: hardness
    label: Vickers microhardness, VC layer on AISI D3 steel
    value: 2400
    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
  - 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
  - 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
  - benchmark: molecular_weight
    label: Molecular weight, VC HV 160 (supplier listing)
    value: 62.95
    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
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.'
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
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.
story:
  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
      level: 0
      verdict: Flammable solid (H228) per supplier SDS
      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.
    - 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.
  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.
    - 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.
    - 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.
    - label: Grain control
      line: in tungsten carbide cobalt parts, VC acts as a grain growth inhibitor during sintering.
  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
    - label: Density
      benchmark: density
    - label: Hardness
      benchmark: hardness
  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.