Authors: Lisheng Zhong Yunhua Xu Fangxia Ye
Publish Date: 2012/05/27
Volume: 47, Issue: 2, Pages: 253-259
Abstract
An niobium carbide NbC particlereinforced iron matrix composite was fabricated by compounding gray cast iron with niobium wires through an in situ technique comprised of an infiltration casting process and a subsequent heat treatment The NbC particles in the reinforcement phase were synthesized in situ through the reaction between niobium from niobium wires and carbon from the graphite phases produced by the heat treatment in gray cast iron The microstructure and wearresistance of the bulk niobium particlereinforced iron matrix composite was studied at different NbC particle volume fractions 8 15 22 and 28 vol by scanning electron microscope Xray diffraction and a wear tester The NbC particles were observed to form tiny cuboids and nearly spherical particles which were evenly distributed in the matrix The particle size of the NbC reinforcement was about 03–35 μm The relative wear resistance of the bulk composite increased with increasing NbC volume fraction and the wear resistance of the composite was 59fold higher than that of the gray cast iron under a 20N load and at a 28 vol volume fraction Wear performance of the composite at different NbC particle volume fraction values was also analyzed
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