Development of FeNbC for wear resistant applications

Niobium carbide (NbC) exhibits outstanding properties such as high hardness and chemical stability that are very favorable for application in high performance wear resistant materials. FeNbC is a metal matrix composite that contains fine NbC particles homogeneously distributed in an iron matrix. This innovative material was developed as an alternative alloying source of NbC and it can be applied as an additive for castings or as a hard-facing material for manufacturing wear resistant parts such as liners, chutes, pump impellers, rolling mill rolls and ground engaging tools. This work presents the properties of FeNbC and the results of dissolution trials carried out in order to determine the best addition practices for FeNbC in cast irons and steels. The most efficient methods of addition were to melt the FeNbC with the metal charge and to add it on the bath surface. It was verified that the dissolution of the iron matrix in the liquid metal allows the transfer and dispersion of NbC particles into the melt. Since the density of NbC is similar to that of melted iron and steel, the hard NbC particles distribute uniformly. Therefore, the dissolution of FeNbC enables the development of different wear resistant cast irons or steels with high contents of hard primary NbC suitable for diverse applications in the mining and processing industries. (AU) Copyright © 2018 Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM) All rights reserved