The present work deals with Niobcarbid (NbC). Strategic reflections on tungsten carbide and more and more stringent toxicological restrictions for cobalt associated for both with spiraling stock market prices have attracted recently some attention for Niobium carbide as a substitute for tungsten carbide in machining.
The aim of the study presented in this paper is to highlight the potential of niobium carbide cutting tool inserts for machining and to compare their performance to commercially available tungsten carbide inserts. In this work, a comparison between a conventional Wc-Co insert and NbC-Co inserts was carried out under hard machining conditions on specimens made of 100Cr6 bearing steel grade (SAE 52100).
In this present study, the mechanical properties (strength, hardness, moduli) and the dry sliding properties of stoichiometric and sub-stoichiometric NbC were compared. Microhardness and elastic properties of NbC depend from the C/Nb ratio, because the binary phase diagram Nb-C shows a region of homogeneity of NbCx of 0,72≤ x ≤1.0. At RT, hard metals of stoichiometric NbC have an elastic modulus E of ~440 GPa, those of substochiometric NbC0,88 an E of 405 GPa. The hot hardness of sub-stoichiometric NbC is above 600°C higher than of WC. The dry sliding wear resistance (0,1-7/10 m/s) of the present Fe3Al-NbC0,94 with ~61 vol.-% NbC as hard phase was close to those known of NbC-based hard metals. No grain pull-outs or fragmentations of the NbC grains were seen in the wear tracks of the Fe3Al-NbC composite (MMC), as a metallurgical interphase was formed between matrix and NbC grains. Stoichiometric and sub-stoichiometric niobium carbides have at RT and 400°C under dry sliding a prone intrinsic wear resistance more or less independent from sliding speed, either as hardmetal or as hard phase in metal matrix composite, associated with an exceptional high load carrying capacity.
Das tribologische Profil von binderlosem NbC und mit 8% bzw. mit 12% Cobalt oder 12% Fe3Al gebundenem NbC wird unter unidirektionaler Gleitreibung (v= 0,1-10 m/s, T= 22°C und 400°C) und unter oszillierender Gleitreibung vergleichend gegenüber Ingenieurkeramiken und Hartmetallen dargestellt. Zusätzlich werden die 4-Punkt-Biegebruchfestigkeit, elastische Eigenschaften (E,G) bis 1.000�C die lastabhängige Mikrohärte sowie die Phasenzusammensetzung und Gefügestrukturen vorgestellt. Die Verschleißkoeffizienten des binderlosen NbC lagen bei T unterhalb von 10-6 mm³/N?m, während diejenigen der cobaltgebundenen NbCs mit ansteigender Gleitgeschwindigkeit von 2-4 10-6 mm³/N?m bei 0,1 m/s auf 5-7 10-7 mm³/N.m bei 10 m/s abnahmen. Die Verschleißkoeffizienten bei 400°C lagen für die NbCs generell unterhalb von 10-6 mm³/N.m. Das tribologische Lasttragevermögen im Trockenlauf, ausgedrückt als PV-Wert, nimmt mit ansteigender Gleitgeschwindigkeit auf 100 W/mm² zu. Bedingt durch die geringe Löslichkeit von NbC in Legierungen offenbarten erste Zerspanversuche mit verschiedenen Stählen eine gegenüber WC-basierten Schneidstoffen signifikant angehobene Zerspanungsvolumina. Somit offenbart NbC in offenen und geschlossenen Tribosystemen Anwendungspotentiale.
The tribological and mechanical properties of niobium carbides (NbC) bonded with cobalt of Fe3Al
(2014)
The tribological and mechanical properties of niobium carbide bonded with 8 vol.-% (NbC-8Co), 12 vol.-% of cobalt (NbC-12Co) or 12 vol.-% of Fe3Al (NbC-12Fe3Al) are presented. Rotating discs made of metal-bonded niobium carbide were mated against alumina (99.7%) under unlubricated (dry) unidirectional sliding tests (0.1 m/s to 12.0 m/s; 22 °C and 400 C) as well as in oscillation tests (f=20 Hz, Δx=0.2 mm, 2/50/98% rel. humidity, n=105/106 cycles). Microstructure and phase compositions were determined as well. The tribological data obtained were benchmarked with different ceramics, cermets, hard metals and thermally sprayed coatings, where NbC bonded with 8% and 12% Co presented above 7 m/s the lowest wear rates so far in such a benchmark. Binderless NbC (HP-NbC1) and the metal-bonded NbCs exhibited low wear rates under dry sliding associated with P·V high load carrying capacities. NbC-based hard metal bonded with 12 vol.-% of Fe3Al resulted in a higher hardness level than for 12 vol.-% cobalt. The tribological profile established revealed a strong position of NbC-bearing materials under tribological considerations and for closed tribosystems against established reference tribo-couples.