Aluminum carbide is a chemical compound that gets decomposed in contact with water to release methane gas. It is a yellow or brown crystal chemical that is used as an abrasive material in different industries. It is highly brittle, but it also has high mechanical strength, which makes it useful in a wide range of applications. The global demand for the product is expected to rise in the near future due to the growing electronics sector. However, fluctuating raw materials prices and high R&D costs may act as a restraint on the market.

During the production process of aluminium carbide, carbon combines with aluminum to form two distinct compounds: aluminium tricarbonate (AlC3) and aluminium dicarbonate (AlD). The formation of these compounds takes place at very high temperatures. During this time, the material undergoes physical changes, such as a brittle crystal structure and a color change to pale yellow.

When the compound is heated, it can combine with other elements such as nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus to form corresponding aluminium compounds. These are known as aluminides, and they have low melting points and boiling points. They are also more stable than the alumina itself.

The most common aluminide is aluminum trialkyls, which are composed of an alkene group attached to an aluminum atom. These are very stable at low temperatures and have relatively good conductivity. The aluminides are used for refining and electroplating. They also react with certain acid salts to form complex aluminum oxides. These compounds are soluble in acids with a pH of 4-9 and insoluble in higher pH solutions.