Impact-abrasive wear property of ZrO2 toughened Al2O3 ceramic particles reinforced high manganese steel matrix composites

Abstract

ZrO2-toughened Al2O3 (ZTA) ceramic particle–reinforced high manganese steel (HMS) matrix composites are a promising class of wear-resistant structural materials for various purposes such as mining. In this study, millimeter-scale ZTA/HMS composites were prepared by cast infiltration method. Using SEM, EPMA, TEM, nanoindentation, a microhardness tester, and an impact-abrasive wear machine, the microscopic characteristics of interfacial layers, work-hardening behaviors, impact-abrasive wear properties, and wear failure mechanism were investigated. The results show a smooth and continuous interfacial layer between ZTA and the matrix. This layer is dominated by an amorphous structure, and the hardness and modulus of the interfacial layer reached 6 and 200 GPa, respectively. The relative wear resistance of the composites under impact (energies of 2–5 J) was between 2.17 and 0.59, and the depth of the work-hardening layer amounted to 0.95–2.95 mm. The wear failure mechanism of the composites was as follows: at a low impact energy (2 J), micro-cutting, grooving, fatigue spalling, and wedge formation occurred. When the impact energy was increased to 5 J, the wear mechanism of the composites was dominated by the breaking and shedding of the ZTA particles. This study has practical importance because it is based on the problems and needs of composites in actual production.