Abstract:In order to enhance the hot hardness and toughness of HSS, NbC particles reinforced ASP2080 HSS composites were prepared in this paper by powder ball milling (carbide and metal powders) plus vacuum sintering process. The microstructure and mechanical properties of NbC/ASP2080 HSS composites were characterized and analyzed using equipment such as XRD, SEM, EDS, and universal tensile testing machine. The results show that: the addition of NbC does not change the phase structure of composites, and with the increase of NbC content, the matrix grain size of heat-treated composites decreased significantly; heat treatment can significantly improve the hardness, flexural strength and impact toughness of composites; the hardness, flexural strength and impact toughness of heat-treated composites with the increase of NbC content are increased and then decreased trend. The heat-treated composites with 4% NbC content have the best overall performance, with an average grain size of 6.52 μm, and the hardness, flexural strength and impact toughness of 71.7 HRC, 825.3 MPa, and 6.75 J/cm2, respectively.