Flame initiated (800 degrees C, 10 s) or bulk thermal (2 days, 1000 degrees
C)reactions of mixed powders of transition metal halides and CaC2 or Al4C3
produce transition metal carbides (TiC, ZrC, HfC, V8C7, NbC, TaC, Cr3C2, M
o2C and WC) in good yields. The carbides were characterised by X-ray powder
diffraction, SEM/EDX, FTIR, microelemental analysis, TEM, electron diffrac
tion and ELNES.