1 Introduction Transition-metal carbides (TMCs) consist of a class of ceramics with a wide range of crystal phases, microstructures, and physical properties. Among them, Group IVB and VB TMCs, which are carbides of titanium (TiC), zirconium (ZrC), hafnium (HfC), vanadium (VC), niobium (NbC), and tantalum (TaC), stand out because of their superior hardness, high melting temperature, and wear resistance [1], earning them recognition as ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs).