Microstructure and Properties of Fe–Cr–B–Al Alloy After Heat Treatment

Abstract

By means of optical microscope, scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectrometer, Rockwell and Vickers hardness tester, and wear tester, the microstructure and properties of Fe–10Cr–1B–4Al alloy quenched in different temperature has been studied. The results show that the microstructure of as-cast Fe–10Cr–1B–4Al are composed of pearlite, ferrite and the eutectic borocarbide which shows a network distribution along grain boundaries. The eutectic borocarbides are composed of M7(C, B)3, M2(B, C) and M23(C, B)6. As the quenching temperature increases, the network structure of eutectic borocarbide breaks, but the type of eutectic borocarbide has no obvious change, and the matrix structure changes gradually from ferrite to pearlite. As the quenching temperature increases, the macro-hardness and the matrix micro-hardness of Fe–10Cr–1B–4Al alloy increases gradually. The macro-hardness and matrix micro-hardness of alloy reach the highest value of 45.7 HRC and 388.1 HV, respectively when the quenching temperature is 1150 °C. The hardness of alloy decreases slightly when the quenching temperature is too high. While quenching at 1150 °C, the alloy has the highest wear resistance and good comprehensive properties.