Molybdenum carbide is an extremely hard, refractory, ceramic material, commercially used in tool bits for cutting tools. There are at least three reported phases of molybdenum carbide: γ-MoC, β-Mo2C, and γ'. The γ phase is structurally identical to tungsten carbide. β-Mo2C has been suggested as a catalyst for carbon dioxide hydrogenation. The γ' phase forms by combining the elements at relatively low temperatures, and transforms to the γ phase at 800 °C.
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