Infiltration Casting and In Situ Fabrication of NbC Particulates – Reinforced Iron Matrix Composites

Abstract:

Niobium carbide (NbC) particulates -reinforced iron matrix composites were prepared by in- situ fabrication method combining an infiltration casting with a subsequent heat treatment. The microstructure and wear-resistance of NbC particulate-reinforced iron matrix composites were studied using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and wear testing. The results indicate that at 1172 °C for 3 hours NbC particulate-reinforced iron matrix composites were fabricated, and the size of NbC reinforcement was 0.3–3.5 μm. The relative wear resistance of the composites was 5.4 times higher than that of gray cast iron under a 20 N load. This was achieved at 22 % NbC volume fraction. Wear of the composites manifests as grooves, broken carbide particulates and some micro-cracks.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 284-286)
• Pages: 269-272
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.284-286.269
• Online since: July 2011
• Authors: Li Sheng Zhong, Yun Hua Xu, Na Na Wang, Xiao Jie Liu, Fang Xia Ye, Shan Shan Hu
• Keywords: Abrasive Wear, In Situ Fabrication, NbC/Fe Matrix Composites, Particle Reinforcement, Wear Mechanism

References

[1] Franck A. Girot, J.M. Quenisset, R. Naslain, Discontinuously-reinforced aluminum matrix composites, Comp. Sci. Technol. 30 (1987), 155-184.

DOI: 10.1016/0266-3538(87)90007-8

[2] F.M. Hosking, F. Folgar Portillo, R. Wunderlin, R. Mehrabian, Composites of aluminum alloys: fabrication and wear behavior, J. Mater. Sci. 17 (1982), 477-498.

DOI: 10.1007/bf00591483

[3] Y.-F. Yang, H.-Y. Wang, Y.-H. Liang, R.-Y. Zhao, Q.-C. Jiang, Effect of C particle size on the porous formation of TiC particulate locally reinforced steel matrix composites via the SHS reaction of Ni–Ti–C system during casting, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 474 (2008), 355-362.

DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2007.04.061

[4] H.O. Pierson, Handbook of refractory carbides and nitrides: properties, characteristics, processing and applications, Noyes publication, U.S.A. 1996.

[5] H. Zuhailawati, T.L. Yong, Consolidation of dispersion strengthened copper–niobium carbide composite prepared by in situ and ex situ methods, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 505 (2009), 27-30.

DOI: 10.1016/j.msea.2008.10.038

[6] H. Zuhailawati, Y. Mahani, Effects of milling time on hardness and electrical conductivity of in situ Cu–NbC composite produced by mechanical alloying, J. Alloys Compd. 476 (2009), 142-146.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2008.09.018

[7] W.M. Daoush, H.S. Park, K.H. Lee, S.F. Moustafa, S.H. Hong, Effect of binder compositions on microstructure, hardness and magnetic properties of (Ta,Nb)C–Co and (Ta,Nb)C–Ni cemented carbides, Int. J. Refract. Met. Hard Mater. 27 (2009), 669-675.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrmhm.2008.10.017

[8] S. C. Tjong, Z. Y. Ma, Microstructural and mechanical characteristics of in situ metal matrix composites, Mater. Sci. Eng. R 29 (2000), 49-113.