Chromium Carbide (Cr3C2) Nanoparticles – Properties, Applications

Nanoparticles research has discovered numerous applications in the field of biomedicine, cosmetics, optics and electronics, which were earlier not possible using the elements in their bulk states. This article will look into the properties and applications of chromium carbide nanoparticles.

Chromium carbide (Cr₃C₂) is an excellent refractory ceramic material known for its hardness. Chromium carbide nanoparticles are manufactured by the process of sintering. They appear in the form of orthorhombic crystal, which is a rare structure. Some of the other notable properties of these nanoparticles are good resistance to corrosion and ability to resist oxidation even at high temperatures. These particles have the same thermal coefficient as that of steel, which gives them the mechanical strength to withstand stress at the boundary layer level. Chromium belongs to Block D, Period 4 while carbon belongs to Block P, Period 2 of the periodic table.

Chemical Properties

The following tables list the chemical properties of chromium carbide nanoparticles.

Physical Properties

Chromium carbide nanoparticles appear in the form of gray crystals with an orthorhombic structure. The table below provides the physical properties of these nanoparticles.

Thermal Properties

The thermal properties of chromium carbide nanoparticles are given in the table below:-

Applications

The following are the chief applications of chromium carbide:

• As a thermal spray material for protection of the metal surface beneath
• Additive in the making of wear and corrosion-resistant materials
• As a coating to seals, bearings, valve seals
• As fine-crystal phase in sintered carbides like vanadium carbide for suppressing the growth of grains at submicrometre level during pressing and sintering.

Source: AZoNano