Effect of the additions of carbide-forming elements on the microstructure and mechanical properties of steel shot

Abstract

The effect of the additions of carbide-forming elements (vanadium, titanium, chromium, molybdenum) on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the steel shot produced by the atomization of an iron-carbon melt (0.8% C) by water at a low pressure (0.2 MPa) is studied. The introduction of alloying elements is shown to affect the sizes of the structural constituents that form during the solidification of shot particles and, hence, the mechanical properties (hardness, wear resistance) of the shot. The additions can decrease the grain size in the shot by a factor of 2.5–3. The formation of the MC (M is a carbide-forming element), VC, TiC, or M 2C (e.g., Mo2C) carbide increases the hardness of the shot material. Chromium and molybdenum form solid solutions with iron and complex (Fe, M)3C carbides.