Niobium Carbide (NbC) Micron Powder

Niobium carbide is an extremely hard refractory ceramic material with the symbol NbC and Nb2C. Its melting point is approximately 3608℃ and has a density of 7.82 g/cm3. Niobium carbide powders provide extreme hardness, extreme wear resistance, high melting point, and high chemical stability. It has the appearance of a brown-gray metallic powder with purple luster, and it is highly corrosion resistant. It is usually processed by sintering and is a frequent additive as grain growth inhibitor in cemented carbides. Niobium carbide powders can be produced by the heating of Niobium oxide in a vacuum at 1800 °C and adding coke. Niobium carbide powders are used in the parts and coatings that undergo fretting, abrasion, cavitation, and particle erosion such as cutting tools, grinding tools, agricultural tools, and hard-face coatings. Also, niobium carbide powders are used as grain growth inhibitors in steels.