The influence of austenitization temperature on microstructural developments, mechanical properties, fracture mode and wear mechanism of Hadfield high manganese steel

Abstract

In this investigation, the effect of austenitization temperature on microstructural evolution, mechanical properties, fracture mode, and wear mechanism of a high carbon Hadfield steel was studied. Four blocks of the Hadfield steel were cast in an induction furnace. One hour austenitization was performed at 1000 °C, 1075 °C, 1150 °C, and 1225 °C on the cast samples followed by quenching in water. Uniaxial tensile test, pin on disk wear test and Vickers hardness measurements were employed on the processed samples. An optical microscope and a field emission scanning electron microscope were used to study the microstructural evolution. Transmission electron microscope was employed to observe the carbides that were formed. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy technique was used to define the mode of fracture on the tensile test samples. Results showed that increasing austenitization temperature reduced carbides and increased austenite grain size. Mechanical properties measurements also showed that increasing austenitization temperature increased yield/tensile strengths, hardness, and wear resistance of this steel. However, these increments were made at the expense of ductility. Fractography results showed a very ductile mode of fracture. The share of the ductile fracture mode was further increased by reducing the austenitization temperature from 1225 °C to 1000 °C.