Development and cost-effective machining of next generation NbC based cermets

The project aims at obtaining fundamental knowledge on the material-process interaction of a novel group of NbC-based cermets toenable the industrial take-up of this new generation of environmentally sustainable cermets. Through the approach of optimizing the microstructure, mechanical properties and machineability of the advanced engineering materials, this research will focus on the development of a selection of model-materials. Special attention will be given to elucidate the processing-microstructure-properties-machineability correlations. The major targeted materials are niobium carbide- (NbC)-based cermets, composed of a hard NbC carbide phase and a metallic binder, with or without additional carbide or nitride additions. An in-depth analysis of the material-process interaction, e.g. the material removal mechanisms of these hard materials by electrical discharge machining (EDM) and electrolytic in-process dressing (ELID)-grinding, aims to have a comprehensive understanding of the interaction between the machining processes and the microstructures of the novel materials to be developed in this project. The influence of the microstructural characteristics, such as grain size, volume percentage, shape and composition of the ceramic phases on the electrical and thermal properties of the cermets and the machining removal rate and surface quality during EDM and ELID-Grinding will be investigated. Furthermore, the machining performance of the NbC-based cermets in continuous-cut machining of steel will be compared with traditional WC-Co cemented carbides and TiCN-Ni based cermets.

Keywords:SINTERING, CHARACTERIZATION, CERMET, HARDMETAL, CEMENTED CARBIDE, MACHINING, CEMENTED CARBIDES & CERMETS

Disciplines:Manufacturing engineering, Other mechanical and manufacturing engineering, Product development, Ceramic and glass materials, Materials science and engineering, Semiconductor materials, Other materials engineering