A Study of Boron-Bearing Wear-Resistant Alloy Steel Liner

Abstract

This article reports the results of an experimental program aimed at improving ball mill availability by increasing the wear resistance of ball mill liners. The ball mill liners made from the wear-resistant alloy steel containing 0.8–2.0 wt%B (viz. boron alloy steel) have been developed. The effects of quenching temperature on the microstructural modification, mechanical properties, and wear resistance of boron alloy steel have been investigated by optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, impact tester, hardness tester, and impact wear tester. The results show that the hardness of boron alloy steel increases, and impact toughness has no obvious change, when the quenching temperature increases. When the quenching temperature reaches 1000°C, the matrix of boron alloy steel transforms into the lath martensite, and there is excellent wear resistance. After quenching at 1000°C and tempering at 220°C, boron alloy steel liners have excellent wear resistance and do not break in the use. Its servicing cycle is 1.6 times longer than that of high manganese steel liner. Boron alloy steel liner does not contain valuable alloy elements and has simple production process and low production cost.