What is "titanium carbide"

n. (context chemistry English) A very hard ceramic material, TiC, used in tool bits and in the preparation of cermets

Titanium carbide, Ti C, is an extremely hard ( Mohs 9–9.5) refractory ceramic material, similar to tungsten carbide. It has the appearance of black powder with the sodium chloride ( face-centered cubic) crystal structure. It occurs in nature as a form of the very rare mineral khamrabaevite - (Ti,V,Fe)C.

Titanium carbide is used in preparation of cermets, which are frequently used to machine steel materials at high cutting speed. It is also used as an abrasion-resistant surface coating on metal parts, such as tool bits and watch mechanisms. Titanium carbide is also used as a heat shield coating for atmospheric reentry of spacecraft.