Low-Temperature Elastic Properties of ZrC and TiC

Abstract

The elastic constants of zirconium carbide and titanium carbide were determined over the temperature range of 4.2° to 298°K using a pulsed-ultrasonic phase comparison technique, and are compared to previously determined values for uranium carbide. Since these carbides are of the NaCl structure, only three independent constants are required to describe their elastic behavior. Their values at 298°K are ZrC0.94TiC0.91C114.720±0.0055.145±0.005C120.987±0.0051.060±0.002C441.593±0.0021.788±0.002all in units of 1012 dyn/cm2. The differences in the elastic behavior of these group IV, transition metal carbides and the monocarbide of uranium are discussed in reference to their different electronic structure.