On the singularity of high temperature carbidization of niobium

The results of specific behavior of niobium carbidization process at high temperature non-isothermal conditions depending of heating rates of samples are presented. Experiments were carried out by High Speed Scanning Electrothermography method in a wide temperature range (1000-2300 °C) using gaseous methane as a source of carbon. It was established that at heating rates of samples more than 10,000 °C/s and T ≥ 2200 °C sharp increase of carbidization rate occurs which were registered by three independent methods: by weight gain, carbide layers growth and heat release rate. Based on SEM examinations of reacted samples the abnormal dependence of carbidization rate vs. heating rate was caused by the formation of non-equilibrium liquid phase at temperatures noticeably lower than the melting point of the lowest eutectic in Nb-C system.