Tantalum carbide (TaCx) whiskers were successfully synthesized via different methods and different starting raw materials in the presence of Ni powder used for the catalysis of the synthesis. In the Ta2O5-NaCl-C-Ni and Ta2O5NaF-C-C 12H22O11 (sucrose) systems the whiskers grew via a vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism and exhibit a fairly straight fiber morphology. In the Ta2O5-KCl-C-Ni system, some whiskers grew via a VLS mechanism and others via a LS mechanism. Some whiskers grew with a zigzag shape tip and conical shaped morphology. All whiskers were grown under similar reaction conditions at temperatures which range from 1150 degreesC to 1350 degreesC in a nitrogen ambient atmosphere. The compositions, morphology, crystal structure and growth mechanism were investigated in detail.