Alloy design to control the size and morphology of niobium carbides in tool steels

Controlling the size and the morphology of niobium carbides is crucial to develop a carbide volume fraction capable of significantly influencing the cutting/wear properties of tool steels and cast irons. The phase diagram suggests that by increasing the delta phase field, ferrite may be forced to precipitate preferentially to NbC. Hence, alloying with a strong ferritizer such as aluminum and/or silicon may result in more convenient microstructure when Nb %>3. To check that possibility, as-cast microstructures were analyzed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. By combining additions of niobium and aluminum, it seems possible to control the size and the morphology of niobium carbides without necessarily resorting to more complex processes such as atomization and the like