**Author details**

**Samples Microhardness (HV)** EP 636.8 ± 35.6 ETU 700.6 ± 17.0 ETC 191.2 ± 20.3

**Table 1.** Microhardness results of composites milled for 5 hours and sintered at temperature of 1250°C for 60

The process of TaC powder synthesis generated microstructure of refined grains with rounded morphology of particles, and crystallite size (13.78 nm) that may have influenced densification

Tantalum carbide-TaC with nanosized crystallites, strongly agglomerated, forming particles smaller than EUROFER 97 steel particles, were dispersed by milling, remaining compacted among particles that compose the metal matrix, thus obtained material with refined micro‐

SEM images show sintered pure steel samples and steel composites with UFRN TaC, in which microstructure typical of sintered material with initial, intermediate, final sintering stages were observed. In addition, the dispersion of tantalum carbides in the EUROFER steel metal matrix

Optical microscopy showed a change in grain size and in the microstructure of the different sintered materials. For samples with the addition of TaC, grain size decreased or remained stable compared with sintered pure steel. Sintering at temperature of 1250°C provided high densification in composite reinforced with Aldrich TaC but the microhardness result was low,

The powder metallurgy processing was sufficient to improve the mechanical properties of EUROFER steel, with small difference in relation to microhardness results between EUROFER steel and composite reinforced with UFRN TaC. In the case of composite reinforced with commercial TaC, there is a considerable difference, which can be related to the phase trans‐ formation and / or presence of coarse particles compared with UFRN TaC powder particles,

New EUROFER 97 steel composite with TaC was developed and characterized according to appropriate procedures for the manufacturing processes used in this work and with altered mechanical properties and future features such as: special applications in nuclear reactor,

EP= Pure EUROFER;

**8. Conclusions**

was observed.

which are thinner.

cutting materials and many others.

and also the microhardness of sintered samples.

structure, smaller grain sizes and good mechanical properties.

which can be related to a phase change, i.e. steel became fully ferritic.

ETU=EUROFER + UFRN TaC; ETC=EUROFER + commercial TaC

118 Sintering Techniques of Materials

Leiliane Alves de Oliveira, Uílame Umbelino Gomes\* , Ariadne Souza Silva and Emanuel João Batista

\*Address all correspondence to: umbelino@dfte.ufrn.br

Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
