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.
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.
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.