Formation mechanism for the white etching microstructure in the subsurface of the failure pearlite wheel steel

Abstract

The subsurface white etching microstructure (WEM) was an important reason to cause the rolling contact fatigue (RCF) failure of wheel materials. The WEM formation mechanism in the subsurface layers of failed pearlite steel wheel was analyzed by using a scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, and nanoindenter. The results showed that RCF cracks were mostly at the interface between the WEM and pearlite matrix. A large amount of the WEM was found in areas with no RCF cracks. This indicates that the WEM was formed prior to the RCF cracks. The WEM was comprised of nanostructured ferrite grains and residual cementite particles, and its hardness (approximately 920 HV) was about 3 times as high as that of the pearlite matrix. A soft area model for WEM formation is proposed based on the microstructural characteristics of two types of ferrite grains and the dissolution of cementite in pearlite resulting from continuous plastic deformation. During the wheel–rail contact, continuous plastic deformation in the subsurface under high contact stress conditions causes the successive refinement of the proeutectoid ferrite (PF) with low strength and ferrite grains in pearlite, the dissolution of cementite, and the improvement in the corrosion resistance, which cause the WEM to look white under an optical microscope. The WEM formation processes induced by alternating fatigue load were similar to that of surface nanocrystallization through surface mechanical attrition treatment. The great difference between the WEM and the pearlite matrix in the strength results in the crack propagating along their interface, therefore the nonuniform distribution of the WEM along both edges of RCF cracks was found commonly.