Ceramic harder than carbide?

[Zagorov]

Once I had some time and wanted to check the hardness values for the most common types of carbides (and some measure of sizes as well) - these are the values I found (different sources used - that is why there are ranges):

Vanadium carbide – VC – 82-84 HRC (3rd smallest carbides)
Niobium carbide - NbC – 76-80 HRC (the smallest carbides)
Tungsten (Wolfram) carbide – WC – 72-77 HRC (2nd smallest carbides)
Molybdenum carbide – MoC – 72-77 HRC (4th smallest carbides)
Chromium carbide – CrC – 66-68 HRC (the largest carbides)

Anyone to chime in with opinions?

 

[Wowbagger]

My opinion is that I am having a great time reading this thread and I thank you all for the info.

 

[Papa P]

Once I had some time and wanted to check the hardness values for the most common types of carbides (and some measure of sizes as well) - these are the values I found (different sources used - that is why there are ranges):

Vanadium carbide – VC – 82-84 HRC (3rd smallest carbides)
Niobium carbide - NbC – 76-80 HRC (the smallest carbides)
Tungsten (Wolfram) carbide – WC – 72-77 HRC (2nd smallest carbides)
Molybdenum carbide – MoC – 72-77 HRC (4th smallest carbides)
Chromium carbide – CrC – 66-68 HRC (the largest carbides)

Anyone to chime in with opinions?

I have seen these carbides in my search for the hardest knife material. The only carbides I have seen used in a knife are titanium and tungsten carbide.