Effect of Aluminum Content on Wear Resistance of Hot-Forged Multiphase Steel

Abstract

A medium-carbon steel was alloyed with Mn, Cr, Si, and Al to obtain carbide-free bainite steel. The thermomechanics and chemistry of steel were used to produce medium carbon containing four phases: ferrite, pearlite, bainite, and chromium carbide. The morphologies of different phases were characterized and analyzed by using optical and scanning electron microscopes. An abrasive dry sliding wear (pin on ring) of two types of medium-carbon, hot-forged steels containing different aluminum contents was investigated at different pressures and sliding velocities. The sliding duration time was 30 minutes under dry sliding conditions. The wear rate of Alloy 1 and 2 revealed negligible wear rates at low velocity and pressure. On the other hand, the wear rate highly increased to maximum at maximum velocity and pressure for Alloy 1 and 2. Alloy steel 2 of 2 pct Al revealed a maximum wear rate of 720 mg/min compared with 160.8 mg/min for Alloy 1 contains 1 pct Al. Experimental results showed that increased aluminum content is directly proportional to the ferrite volume fraction, which greatly influences the wear resistance performance and mechanical properties of the two types of steel.