The pressure dependence of the onset of the formation of Ta C and Ta2 C from the elements has been investigated by in situ X-ray diffraction and pyrometry.Ta C has been synthesized by the reaction of Ta and graphite at pressures between 8.6 and 14.3 GPa and at temperatures up to 2,300 K using a laser-heated diamond anvil cell. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction. Ta and graphite begin to react around 1,100 K at ambient pressure conditions, and the reaction temperature increases with increasing pressure. A linear extrapolation of these data is consistent with recent observations of the formation of Ta C at 90 GPa and 3,600 K. We show that diffusion of carbon into tantalum significantly changes the lattice parameter of up to 2 % in the pressure range of up to19 GPa. In some experiments, Ta2 C was formed concomitantly. The experimentally determined bulk modulus of Ta2 C is B0;exp:= 286(5) GPa. Other tantalum carbide phases were not observed. The pressure dependence of the onset of the formation of Ta C and Ta2 C from the elements has been investigated by in situ X-ray diffraction and pyrometry. Ta C has been synthesized by the reaction of Ta and graphite forces between 8.6 and 14.3 GPa and at temperatures up to 2,300 K using a laser-heated diamond anvil cell. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction. Ta and graphite begin to react around 1,100 K at ambient pressure conditions, and the reaction temperature increases with increasing pressure. A linear extrapolation of these data is consistent with recent observations of the formation of Ta C at 90 GPa and 3,600 K. We show that diffusion of carbon into tantalum significant changes the lattice parameter of up to 2% in the pressure range of up to 19 GPa. In some experiments, Ta2C was formed concomitantly. The experimentally determined bulk modulus of Ta2C is B0; exp: = 286 (5) GPa. Other tantalum carbide phases were not observed.