The aim of this work was to correlate the overall carbon contents in NbC-Ni, NbC-Ni-VC and NbC-Ni-Mo starting powders with the resulting microstructure, hardness, and fracture toughness of Ni-bonded NbC cermets.
Niobium is today largely available. NbC displayed lower dry sliding friction over WC grades. The softer Ni- and NiMo-bonded NbC1.0-grades have a higer abrasive wear resistance (ASTM G65), even with lower toughnesses, than the tougher WC-Co grades and harder NbC-Co grades.