Elastic properties of 5d transition-metal carbides: An ab initio study

Abstract

We have systematically studied the mechanical stability of group V transition metal carbides TMC${}_2$ (TM = Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, and Au) in the pyrite and fluorite phase, by calculating their elastic constants within the density functional theory scheme. It was found that all but ReC${}_2$ and OsC${}_2$ are stable in pyrite phase. On the other hand, all metal carbides studied were unstable in the fluorite phase.

7 pages, 4 figures