Effect of Carbide Orientation on Wear Characteristics of High-Alloy Wear-Resistant Cast Irons

Abstract

Both erosive and abrasive wear are common in mechanical systems and moving components in industrial production. Once they occur in machine parts, the task of breakdown maintenance should be carried out, leading to high production costs. Previous research has shown that high-chromium cast iron (HCCI), a commonly used wear-resistant material, experiences repeated particle impacts that break up the chromium carbides (M7C3) on its surface, resulting in the formation of fine fracture carbides. It has been reported that erosion wear occurs progressively due to the shedding of protrusions caused by the plastic deformation of the material’s matrix. Thus, the erosion wear characteristics of a material are strongly affected by carbides, which come in various shapes and can affect resistance. This research examined the orientation of carbides on the microstructure and their effects on erosion and abrasion properties. The wear tests showed that 27 wt.% chromium content high-alloy cast irons showed the best wear resistance properties due to the coarse strips of M7C3 carbides that effectively suppressed wear propagation. Additionally, the M2C carbides crystallized around the M7C3 carbides which support the M7C3 carbide to reduce plastic deformation and carbide peel-out. Consequently, the wear resistance properties of this material are significantly improved.