335. Aluminum Carbide

Nomenclature

CAS number: 1299-86-1
C3Al4; mol wt 143.96.
C 25.03%, Al 74.97%.
Al4C3.

Description and references

Prepd by heating aluminum powder with carbon: Becher in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry vol. 1, G. Brauer, Ed. (Academic Press, New York, 2nd ed., 1963) p 832.

Properties

Yellow hexagonal crystals or powder. mp 2100°; decomposes above 2200°. d 2.36. Dangerous when wet. Decomposed by water with evolution of methane, q.v.

Use

In generating methane; reducing metal oxides; in manuf of aluminum nitride.