Effect of Two-Step Sintering Cycle by Chen and Wang (TSS-CW) on Aluminium (Al) Metal Matrix Reinforced with Niobium Carbide (NbC)

The aluminium metal matrix composites are significant material for the application of automobile mechanical transmission element like gears due to their excellent physical and mechanical properties. Generally, the addition of carbide reinforcements like silicon carbide (SiC) and tungsten carbide (WC) in pure aluminium (Al) metal matrix improves the hardness. Till now, research work related to pure Al and niobium carbide (NbC) combination for the improvement in mechanical properties has not been addressed widely. The hard-ceramic material like NbC reinforced with Al finds a replacement owing to its high strength and enhanced mechanical properties. In this study, NbC is reinforced with Al metal matrix with different proportions followed by mixing, compaction and subsequent two-step sintering method by Chen and Wang (TSS-CW) to obtain Al-NbC composites. This two-step sintering method was employed, and specimens were fabricated with varying percentage of NbC of 1, 5 and 10% to find out the effect of NbC in aluminium on micro-hardness and density. The micro-hardness test was performed after the sintering process shows that NbC increased the hardness of the specimen by increasing its percentage, whereas the density of the two-step sintered specimen varies concerning the addition of the reinforced element in the metal matrix.