Niobium Carbide

High purity ultrafine niobium powder

Niobium Carbide represents a class of advanced ceramic materials that merge exceptional hardness, thermal stability, and electrical conductivity into a robust package suited for demanding environments.

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Overview of High purity ultrafine niobium powder

Niobium Carbide (NbC) is a refractory ceramic compound composed of niobium and carbon elements, known for its exceptional hardness, high melting point, and excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. It belongs to the family of transition metal carbides, which are valued for their remarkable mechanical properties and resistance to extreme environments. Niobium carbide is a dark gray, extremely hard material that finds application in areas requiring wear resistance, high-temperature stability, and corrosion resistance.

Features of High purity ultrafine niobium powder

  1. High Melting Point: Niobium carbide has a melting point of approximately 3,400 to 3,500°C, making it suitable for high-temperature applications.

  2. Hardness and Wear Resistance: With a Vickers hardness in the range of 2000-2500 Hv, NbC is one of the hardest materials, providing excellent wear resistance in abrasive environments.

  3. Thermal Conductivity: It exhibits good thermal conductivity, facilitating heat dissipation and making it useful in high-heat-load applications.

  4. Chemical Stability: Niobium carbide is resistant to corrosion from most acids and alkalis, excluding hydrofluoric acid, and is stable under oxidizing conditions.

  5. Electrical Conductivity: Although a ceramic, niobium carbide demonstrates moderate electrical conductivity, contributing to its use in some electronic applications.

  6. Density: Despite its hardness, niobium carbide has a relatively high density of about 8.53 g/cm³, adding to its mass efficiency in wear-resistant coatings.

High purity ultrafine niobium powder

(High purity ultrafine niobium powder)

Parameters of High purity ultrafine niobium powder

The high purity ultrafine niobium powder parameter typically refers to the purity of the niobium, which is defined as the ratio of the niobium atoms in the powder sample to the total number of niobium atoms in the sample.

There are several parameters that can be used to determine the purity of high purity ultrafine niobium powder:

1. Atomic weight: The atomic weight of niobium is a common parameter for determining the purity of niobium powder. The atomic weight of niobium is approximately 92.057 u.

2. Particle size: The particle size of the niobium powder affects its porosity and particle-to-volume ratio. A smaller particle size results in a higher particle-to-volume ratio, which means more particles are packed together and may lead to lower particle purity. On the other hand, larger particle sizes result in a lower particle-to-volume ratio, which means fewer particles are packed together but may result in higher particle purity.

3. Surface area: The surface area of the niobium powder affects its mechanical properties and reduce its chemical stability. A larger surface area leads to better mechanical properties and longer degradation time of the powder.

4. Chemical composition: The chemical composition of the niobium powder also plays an important role in determining its purity. Different grades of niobium powders have different compositions and purity levels.

In summary, the high purity ultrafine niobium powder parameter depends on the atomic weight, particle size, surface area, and chemical composition of the powder sample. To determine the purity of the powder, it is necessary to carefully analyze and compare these parameters with industry standards and guidelines.

High purity ultrafine niobium powder

(High purity ultrafine niobium powder)

Applications of High purity ultrafine niobium powder

  1. Cutting Tools and Tool Inserts: In the manufacturing of cutting and machining tools due to its wear resistance and ability to maintain sharp edges at high temperatures.

  2. Wear-Resistant Coatings: As a coating on metal parts exposed to severe wear conditions, such as drill bits, mining equipment, and pump components.

  3. Heat Shields and Furnace Components: In high-temperature furnaces and kilns due to its excellent thermal stability and resistance to oxidation.

  4. Electrode Materials: In some specialized electrodes for electrical discharge machining (EDM) and electrochemical processes.

  5. Cemented Carbides: As a component in cemented carbide composites, enhancing their toughness and wear resistance.

Company Profile

MyCarbides is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12-year-experience in providing super high-quality carbides and relative products.

The company has a professional technical department and Quality Supervision Department, a well-equipped laboratory, and equipped with advanced testing equipment and after-sales customer service center.

If you are looking for high-quality carbide materials and relative products, please feel free to contact us or click on the needed products to send an inquiry.

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It could be shipped by sea, by air, or by reveal ASAP as soon as repayment receipt.

FAQs of High purity ultrafine niobium powder

Q: How is High purity ultrafine niobium powder produced?
A: High purity ultrafine niobium powder is typically synthesized through the carburization of niobium metal powder or oxide at high temperatures in a reducing atmosphere or via direct reaction of niobium with carbon.

Q: Can High purity ultrafine niobium powder be machined?
A: Due to its extreme hardness, machining niobium carbide directly is challenging. It is often fabricated using powder metallurgy techniques, sintering, or applied as a coating through processes like chemical vapor deposition (CVD) or physical vapor deposition (PVD).

Q: Is High purity ultrafine niobium powder biocompatible?
A: While not extensively studied for biomedical applications, niobium-based materials generally exhibit good biocompatibility. Specific studies would be required to assess NbC’s suitability for biomedical implants.

Q: How does High purity ultrafine niobium powder compare to tungsten carbide in terms of hardness?
A: Both are hard materials, but tungsten carbide (WC) is slightly harder, with a typical Vickers hardness of around 2200 Hv, whereas niobium carbide ranges from 2000 to 2500 Hv.

Q: What are the main advantages of using High purity ultrafine niobium powder in tooling applications?
A: The advantages include increased tool life due to high hardness and wear resistance, improved heat resistance allowing for faster machining speeds, and retention of cutting edge sharpness even under high loads.

High purity ultrafine niobium powder

(High purity ultrafine niobium powder)

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