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Substitution of tungsten carbide by niobium carbide as cutting materials and for wear protection
(2016)
Several phases, like Nb₄ C₃ , Nb₆C₅ and other short and long range ordered phases occur in the region of homogeneity of NbCₓ (0.75 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) in the binary phase diagram. Properties, like micro-hardness, hot hardness, sliding wear resistance, elastic modulus and toughness can be tailored by the C/Nb ratio, the addition of secondary carbides and the type of binder. Supporting results from different grades with varying C/Nb ratio or binder types were illuminated. Thus, the NbC system offers to producers a wider process window, than WC. The impact of these tailored properties on sliding wear and cutting performance was illuminated by tribological and machining results.
Niobium is today largely available. NbC can be synthesized by carbothermal conversion of Nb₂O₅ or be metallurgically grown and leached out, provides comparably low friction in many relevant tribo-contacts and displays low wear. NbC and Nb₂O₅ have so far no REACH classification related to human toxicology and are not listed as substances of very high concern contrary to WO₃ and Co₃ O₄ .
Research and development of WC grades is 90 years ahead of niobium carbide-based hard materials, which showed already as light-weight and unexplored material a very high potential for many technical applications, especially for wear protection and machining. NbC evoluted recently from lab scale to pilot scale, especially in areas where established WC-based materials are causing economic, environmental or technical concerns. Benchmark trials of NbC-based hard metals indicated already a favorable performance in machining of steel components.
Niobium is today largely available. The initial NbC grade was substoichiometric, SPS sintered and cobalt bonded (NbC0.88-12Co SPS). The NiMo-bonded stoichiometric NbC1.0 grades enable the subtituion of cobalt by nickel, SPS by conventional sintering and NbC0.88 by NbC1.0 in view of functional properties. Nickel bonded NbC grades have improved toughnesses versus cobalt bonded NbC grades, but lose hardness. NiMo and NiMo2C bonded NbC1.0 grades compensated the loss in hardness while keeping the toughness.
Niobium carbide for wear protection - tailoring its properties by processing and stoichiometry
(2016)
Niobium carbide is a hardly explored carbide but its functional profile shows a high potential for wear protection and tribological applications, which are currently dominated by tungsten carbide. Surprisingly little information is available on niobium carbide (NbC). Niobium carbide can be either synthesized by carbothermal conversion of Nb2O5 or be metallurgically grown and leached out. Furthermore, NbC hardmetal grades can be bonded by all known metallic binders and processed and sintered in exactly the same way as WC-based hardmetals. Niobium is today largely available. NbC can be efficiently produced, provides comparably low friction in many relevant tribo-contacts and displays low wear. NbC and Nb2O5 have so far no REACH classification related to human toxicology and are not listed as substances of very high concern contrary to WO3 and Co3O4. This contribution demonstrates the key characteristics of NbC and discusses its sustainability and reliable value chain.
The sales of niobium carbide (NbC) have grown in the last years, but NbC is still a hidden carbide and mainly used as grain growth inhibitor in hard metals. In the present work it was shown that the progress in the key properties, like HV30, KIC and strength, followed by machining and tribological results of the respective NbC grades.