Mechanochemically synthesized NbC cermets: Part II. Mechanical properties

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1999

Abstract

The mechanical behavior of mechanochemically synthesized NbC cermets was investigated. Material hardnesses range from a high of 19.6 GPa for as-synthesized cermets containing about 4 vol% of Fe to a low of about 4 GPa for heat-treated cermets containing about 34 vol% Cu. Higher hardness generally correlates with lower fracture toughness (about 2 MPa m1/2 for cermets containing the highest percentage of NbC) and vice versa. Highest fracture toughness (about 7.5 MPa m1/2) is found in NbC-18 vol% Fe cermets heat treated extensively following consolidation. Abnormally low fracture toughnesses are found in high-Cu-content cermets in which Cu segregation takes place during heat treatment. Current models of ceramic toughening can be applied to describe the fracture behavior of NbC-Fe cermets.

Publication Title

Journal of Materials Research

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