Binäre und ternäre Carbid- und Nitridsysteme der Übergangsmetalle

Carbide, nitrides, and their mixtures, the carbonitrides, are fascinating materials for researchers in structural science and materials engineering, as well as for engineers and solid-state physicists. Their extreme hardness, high melting points, excellent wear resistance, and unique electrical and thermal behaviors make them particularly noteworthy. Recently, the number of reports on carbide and nitride compounds has surged, leading to a growing demand for a comprehensive overview. This need has been addressed in the current volume, which continues the efforts of the Material Science and Technology series to present specialized areas of materials engineering through recognized experts. The critical summary presented here results from years of research, contributing to a deeper understanding of fundamental phase relationships in binary and ternary systems of transition metal carbides and nitrides. The equilibrium states between these compounds and metallic components, often used as a ductile matrix in hard metals, hold significant technical importance. Beyond its bibliographic value, the work distills universal design principles and fundamental laws of the compounds into rules that will serve as empirical-theoretical probes, facilitating future exploration of this complex and evolving materials sector.