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.
The tribological profile of rotating disks made in binder-less niobium Carbide (hot-pressed NbC) and cobalt-bonded NbCs (NbC-8Co and NbC-12Co) mated against alumina (99.7%) were determined under unidirectional sliding tests (0.1 m/s to 8.0 m/s; 22°C and 400°C) as well as in oscillation tests (f= 20 Hz, Ax= 0.2 mm, 2/50/98% rel. humidity, n= 105/l 06 cycles) under unlubricated (dry) conditions. In addition, the microstructure and mechanical properties of HPNbCl and NbC bonded with 8 vol.-% and 12 vol.-% cobalt were determined as well. The tribological data obtained were benchmarked with different ceramics, cermets, hard metals and thermally sprayed coatings, where the NbCs bonded with 8% and 12% Co presented above 7 m/s the lowest wear rates so far in such a bench mark. HP-NbCl, NbC-8Co and NbC-12Co exhibited low wear rates under dry sliding associated with PV high load carrying capacities. The tribological profile established revealed a strong position of NbC bearing materials under tribological considerations and for closed tribo-systems against traditional references.
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.
The tribological profile of rotating disks made of binder-less niobium carbide (hot-pressed NbC) and cobalt-bonded NbC (NbC-8Co) mated against alumina (99.7%) were determined under unidirectional sliding tests (0.1 m/s to 8.0 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) under un-lubricated (dry) conditions. In addition, the microstructure and mechanical properties of NbC and NbC bonded with 8% cobalt were determined as well. The tribological data obtained were benchmarked with different ceramics, cermets, hard metals and thermally sprayed coatings, where the NbC-8Co presented above 7 m/s the lowest wear rates so far in such a bench mark. NbC and NbC-8Co exhibited low wear rates under dry sliding associated with P·V high load carrying capacity. The tribological profile established revealed a strong position of NbC bearing materials under tribological considerations and for closed tribo-systems against traditional references.
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.
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.
The origin of the intrinsic wear resistance of NbC-based materials is investigated through an assessment of the tribological performance of fully dense, crack-free spark plasma sintered Nb2O5 (here as a reduced polymorph: monoclinic Nb12O29 or NbO2.416). The most likely wear mechanism on NbC is the tribo-oxidation to Nb2O5. The unlubricated (dry) friction and wear behavior of alumina (99.7%) mated against rotating disks of crack-free niobium(V)oxide (Nb2O5) under unidirectional sliding (0.03–10m/s; 22°C and 400°C) and oscillation (f=20 Hz, dx=200 mm, 2/50/98% rel. humidity, n=105/106 cycles) will be presented. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the crack-free Nb2O5 are assessed. The tribological data obtained are benchmarked with different NbC grades, ceramics, cermets and thermally sprayed coatings.