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The influence of adding 6 wt% (NbC) niobium carbide on the sintering temperature and microstructure of high speed steel - AISI M 2 (0.87% C, 5.00% Mo, 6.00% W, 4,00% Cr, 2.00% V and Fe bal.) powder was studied. The starting material was obtained by vacuum melting followed by atomization in water. The samples were axially cold compacted in a cylindrical matrix and then vacuum sintered at 1250 and 1350 °C. Dilatometry and differential scanning calorimetry measurements indicated an increase in sintering temperature with addition of niobium to the AISI M 2 steel. Optical and scanning electron microscope observations revealed a microstructure with uniformly distributed niobium carbides.
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Wentzcovitch et al. (2012) studied this question.