Physical properties and electronic structure of TaC-HfC solid solutions

Abstract

The results of investigations of the physical properties and electronic structure in the Hf x Ta1−x solid solutions have been generalized. The N 3 X-ray emission spectra Ta in hafnium and tantalum carbides have been investigated for the first time. Peak locations and intensities have been compared with the results of calculations of the electron band structure of Hf x Ta1−x C alloys with x = 0, 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75. It has been found that the inversion of peak intensities with increasing hafnium concentration is due to a nonmontonic variation in the density of Ta 5d states in the valence band of these compounds.