Effect of N and aging treatment on precipitation behavior, mechanical properties and wear resistance of Ti–V–Nb alloyed high manganese steel

Abstract

To address the limited wear resistance attributed to the insufficient initial mechanical properties observed in high manganese steel (HM) wear behavior, we introduced nitrogen (N) to modulate precipitation behavior, thereby elevating material mechanical properties and wear resistance, and this was further enhanced through aging treatments. Due to the nitrogen addition, the precipitates transformed from MC to M(C, N), concurrently triggering a substantial increase and refinement in precipitates. As a result, nitrogenous high manganese steel (NHM) exhibited improved strength, toughness, and work-hardening capacity. The enhancements amounted to 67–77 MPa in yield strength and 5.3–9.3 % in elongation, with these improvements becoming more pronounced after extending the aging treatment. Under impact abrasive wear conditions, the NHM demonstrated the development of a stable work-hardened layer. The NHM hardened layer rapidly reached a depth of 4–6 mm, effectively resisting abrasive embedding and suppressing matrix abrasion. This transitioned the primary wear mechanisms from cutting and plowing to plastic deformation and micro-spalling. Additionally, NHM's great uniformity and toughness-plasticity played a crucial role in preventing the initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks and fatigue sheds.