ALUMINUM CARBIDE Property

Melting point:

2100°C

Boiling point:

2200°C (estimate)

Density 

2.36 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)

solubility 

Soluble in dilute hydrochloric acid.

form 

powder

color 

Dark gray

Specific Gravity

2.36

Water Solubility 

decomposes with the evolution of CH4 in H2O [MER06]

Crystal Structure

Trigonal

Sensitive 

Moisture Sensitive

Merck 

14,335

Stability:

Decomposes in water with evolution of CH4

CAS DataBase Reference

1299-86-1

EPA Substance Registry System

Aluminum carbide (Al4C3) (1299-86-1)

Safety

Hazard Codes 

F,Xi

Risk Statements 

15-36/37/38

Safety Statements 

26-43

RIDADR 

UN 1394 4.3/PG 2

WGK Germany 

3

TSCA 

Yes

HazardClass 

4.3

PackingGroup 

II

Hazard and Precautionary Statements (GHS)

Symbol(GHS)

Signal word

Danger

Hazard statements

H261In contact with water releases flammable gas

H315Causes skin irritation

H319Causes serious eye irritation

H335May cause respiratory irritation

Precautionary statements

P231+P232Handle under inert gas. Protect from moisture.

P302+P352IF ON SKIN: wash with plenty of soap and water.

P305+P351+P338IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continuerinsing.

ALUMINUM CARBIDE Chemical Properties,Usage,Production

Chemical Properties

Yellow crystals or powder. Decomposes in water with liberation of methane.

Uses

Aluminum carbide is used as an abrasive material for cutting tools. It is also used to reduce metal oxides and to prepare aluminum nitride and methane. It and also finds use in metallurgy. Further, it acts as a catalyst and a drying agent.

Uses

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

General Description

A yellow powder or crystals. Used to make other chemicals.

Air & Water Reactions

Decomposes slowly in presence of water or moist air to generate heat and flammable methane gas [Merck 12th ed. 1989]. Consequently a dangerous fire risk.

Reactivity Profile

ALUMINUM CARBIDE is a reducing agent. May react vigorously with oxidizing materials. Incandescence on warming with lead dioxide or potassium permanganate, [Mellor, 1946, Vol. 5, 872].

Hazard

Dangerous fire risk in contact with moisture.

Health Hazard

Inhalation or contact with vapors, substance or decomposition products may cause severe injury or death. May produce corrosive solutions on contact with water. Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Runoff from fire control may cause pollution.

Fire Hazard

Produce flammable gases on contact with water. May ignite on contact with water or moist air. Some react vigorously or explosively on contact with water. May be ignited by heat, sparks or flames. May re-ignite after fire is extinguished. Some are transported in highly flammable liquids. Runoff may create fire or explosion hazard.