Characterization of the microstructure of high-chromium cast irons using Mössbauer spectroscopy

The finish grinding process for cement materials uses ball mills with differently sized grinding balls. Because the grinding takes place through the impact and friction of the balls, balls with a high wear resistance are desirable and the materials of choice are the high-chromium white cast irons. This article examines the behavior of these cast irons when subjected to various heat treatments. The emphasis is on the dependence of the microstructure properties on the chemical composition of the alloys and the heat treatment parameters. The content of retained austenite and that of carbon in the martensite phase were determined by the use of Mössbauer spectroscopy. The results verify that a higher proportion of retained austenite with low carbon content and a martensite with higher hardness produce a material with good fracture toughness and resistance to abrasive wear.     

Wear and oxidation behaviour of high-chromium white cast irons

High-chromium white cast irons can attain very hard microstructures composed of intergranular chromium carbides dispersed in a tempered martensitic matrix. Two heat-treated high-chromium white cast irons with different carbon contents were studied in this research work using compression at 500 °C, and wear and oxidation tests at 500 and 600 °C. The hot compression behaviour of these products is excellent, with high strengths and significant ductility. They also exhibited good wear and oxidation properties. Fracture micromechanisms are discussed in relation to the chemical composition and microstructure of the two alloys.     

Effect of deep cryogenic treatment on the microstructure and wear performance of Cr–Mn–Cu white cast iron grinding media

The phase transformation and grinding wear behavior of Cr–Mn–Cu white cast irons subjected to destabilization treatment followed by air cooling or deep cryogenic treatment were studied as a part of the development program of substitute alloys for existing costly wear resistant alloys. The microstructural evolution during heat treatment and the consequent improvement in grinding wear performance were evaluated with optical and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, bulk hardness, impact toughness and corrosion rate measurements, laboratory ball mill grinding wear test etc. The deep cryogenic treatment has a significant effect in minimizing the retained austenite content and converts it to martensite embedded with fine M₇C₃ alloy carbides. The cumulative wear losses in cryotreated alloys are lesser than those with conventionally destabilized alloys followed by air cooling both in wet and dry grinding conditions. The cryotreated Cr–Mn–Cu irons exhibit comparable wear performance to high chromium irons.     

Structure-property relationships in graphitic cast irons

Some techniques used to study fatigue of cast irons are discussed and used to study the structure-property relationships in graphitic cast irons. A wide range of cast irons have been assessed to give a better understanding of the effects of metallurgical structure and graphite morphology on the fatigue behaviour of these materials. It is concluded that the ‘true’ fatigue strength reduction factor is one of the most significant parameters by which to consider improvements in fatigue properties. Increasing the amount of spheroidal graphite is suggested as a method of improving the fatigue properties of CG cast irons and yielding alloys with great potential importance.     

Relationship between microstructure,hardness and corrosion resistance in 20 wt.%Cr, 27 wt.%Cr and 36 wt.%Cr high chromium cast irons

The microstructures, hardness and corrosion behavior of high chromium cast irons with 20, 27 and 36 wt.%Cr have been compared. The matrix in as-cast 20 wt.%Cr, 27 wt.%Cr and 36 wt.%Cr high chromium cast irons is pearlite, austenite and ferrite, respectively. The eutectic carbide in all cases is M₇C₃ with stoichiometry as (Cr_3.37, Fe_3.63)C₃, (Cr_4.75, Fe_2.25)C₃ and (Cr_5.55, Fe_1.45)C₃, respectively. After destabilization at 1000 °C for 4 h followed by forced air cooling, the microstructure of heat-treatable 20 wt.%Cr and 27 wt.%Cr high chromium cast irons consisted of precipitated secondary carbides within a martensite matrix, with the eutectic carbides remaining unchanged. The type of the secondary carbide is M₇C₃ in 20 wt.%Cr iron, whereas both M₂₃C₆ and M₇C₃ secondary carbides are present in the 27 wt.%Cr high chromium cast iron. The size and volume fraction of the secondary carbides in 20 wt.%Cr high chromium cast iron were higher than for 27 wt.%Cr high chromium cast iron. The hardness of heat-treated 20 wt.%Cr high chromium cast iron was higher than that of heat-treated 27 wt.%Cr high chromium cast iron. Anodic polarisation tests showed that a passive film can form faster in the 27 wt.%Cr high chromium cast iron than in the 20 wt.%Cr high chromium cast iron, and the ferritic matrix in 36 wt.%Cr high chromium cast iron was the most corrosion resistant in that it exhibited a wider passive range and lower current density than the pearlitic or austenitic/martensitic matrices in 20 wt.%Cr and 27 wt.%Cr high chromium cast irons. For both the 20 wt.%Cr and the 27 wt.%Cr high chromium cast irons, destabilization heat treatment gave a slight improvement in corrosion resistance.     

Verschleißbeständige Fe‐Basislegierungen mit Niobkarbid

Wear Resistant Fe‐Base Alloys with Niobium Carbide Martensitic Fe‐base alloys from the system Fe‐Cr‐C are widely used as chilled cast irons and tool steels. Because of the low hardness of their FeCr‐carbides this paper reports about new alloys with primarily solidified harder niobium carbides. It focuses on a secondary hardenable welding alloy, a coating material for composite castings, a chilled casting and a corrosion resistant cold work tool steel, which are investigated with respect to their process related microstructure and abrasive wear behaviour.     

Effect of copper on boride layer of boronized ductile cast irons

GGG-50, GGG-60 and GGG-80 ductile cast irons containing 0.01, 0.3 and 0.98 wt% copper, respectively, were boronized in a salt bath and then analyzed using optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Increasing copper concentration in ductile cast irons resulted in formation of mono-phase boride layer (Fe₂B), decreased Si-ferrite zone and hindered the growth discontinuous graphite between boride layer and matrix.     

Low‐temperature annealing and graphitizing of white‐solidified low‐alloy cast irons

Hypoeutectic iron‐carbon and iron‐carbon‐silicon model alloys as well as conventional cast irons GJL‐250_mod and EN‐GJS‐600‐3 have been produced and processed by different solidification techniques, i. e. mold casting, electron beam surface remelting and melt spinning. The white‐solidified alloys exhibit different degrees of microstructural refinement indicated by a secondary dendrite arm spacing of 0.3 μm–12 μm. The effects of microstructural refinement and silicon content on the hardness as well as on coarsening of cementite and graphitizing at temperatures of 540 °C to 670 °C have been investigated. The hardness of the as‐solidified alloys increases with decreasing secondary dendrite arm spacing and increasing silicon content. High silicon content effectively retards coarsening of pearlitic cementite, and thus is beneficial to retain the hardness at small thermal load. On the downside, high degree of microstructural refinement and high silicon content promote and accelerate graphitizing at temperatures > 600 °C. The results are discussed in terms of the applicability of a recently developed two‐step surface treatment for cast irons, i. e. electron beam remelting followed by nitriding.     

Fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth of grey cast irons

The fracture behaviour of alloys with a pearlitic matrix and lamellar and spherulitic graphite has been compared. Fatigue crack growth functions were measured and various critical stress intensities obtained from load-displacement curves. An analysis of microstructure in the uncracked and cracked state served as the base for a discussion of quantitative models for the relation between microstructure and bulk fracture mechanical properties. In addition to volume fraction and shape of graphite, crack branching (and eventually transformation of residual austenite) are required to explain the resistance of grey cast irons against stable and unstable crack growth. It is concluded that the standard methods for the evaluation of fracture mechanical properties are not satisfactory especially for cast irons with lamellar graphite.     

含硼低合金球铁磨球的研制

研究了一种能在冲天炉条件下生产的用于制造磨球的低合金球铁材料。通过加入微量的硼元素及少量的铬元素提高了碳化物的显微硬度,通过采取一定的热处理方式改变了碳化物的形态,耐磨球铁的组织为:球状石墨+小块状碳化物+针状组织。含硼低合金耐磨球铁的硬度为HRC52～58,冲击韧性可达9～11J/cm~2.     

Bruchzähigkeitsverhalten von Magnesium‐Druckgusslegierungen

Fracture Toughness of Pressure Die Cast Magnesium Alloys The increasing use of pressure die cast alloys for the manufacturing of automotive components requires materials values, which describe the mechanical behaviour comprehensively. There is especially a lack of data for the design of safety relevant components. In this paper fracture mechanics investigations are presented to assess the crack resistance of the alloys AZ91, AM50 and AE42 on the basis of the multispecimen test method. The investigations occurred on SENB and CT‐specimens taken from pressure die cast plates of the same dimensions. The results reveal a clear correlation between the microstructure, especially the concentration and the distribution of intermetallic phases, and the crack resistance. Because of the cast‐induced defects like microshrinkage and gas inclusions the good intrinsic properties of the alloys can not be completely exploited.     

A Structural Study of High Cr Cast Iron as a Grinding Ball Material

In present paper, the 3-body abrasion andimpact fatigue resistance of a 12％Cr-2.65％C-1.4％Sihigh Cr cast iron are comprehensively evaluated.The results indicated that the lower the C contentof the martensitic matrix, the better the impactfatigue resistance of the iron. The retainedaustenite is always harmful to both 3-bodyabrasion and impact fatigue resistances. Thelow C content martensitic matrix free fromretained austenite is suitable for making grindingballs.     

A Study of Microstructures and Properties of High‐Carbon Si‐Cr Cast Steel Containing Rare Earth and Titanium

The microstructure, tensile and impact behaviour of high‐carbon Si‐Cr cast steel containing rare earth (RE) and titanium have been determined after austempering. The additions of RE and titanium refined the primary austenite grain size resulting in improving toughness. The addition of silicon handicapped the formation of carbide and carbide‐free bainitic ferrite and carbon enriched retained austenite could be obtained in the austempering structures of high‐carbon Si‐Cr cast steel, which had excellent mechanical properties and abrasion resistance. Moreover, the basic tendency of the mechanical properties of high‐carbon Si‐Cr cast steel influenced by the austempering temperature was that the hardness and tensile strength reduced and the impact toughness and fracture toughness increased with increasing temperature. The comprehensive properties were the best while austempering at 330^oC.     

Effect of fluctuation and modification on microstructure and impact toughness of 20 wt.% Cr hypereutectic white cast iron. Einfluss durch Partikelzugaben und Modifikationen auf die Mikrostruktur und die Kerbschlagzähigkeit von übereutektischem weißen Gusseisen mit 20 Gew.‐% Cr

In the present study, Fe‐Cr‐C hypereutectic high chromium white cast iron were prepared from industry‐grade materials and subjected to the treatment of modification using Fe‐Si‐RE alloy, aluminum and a self‐made intermediate alloy, fluctuation (ferroalloy powder), and the combination of the fluctuation and the modification respectively. The structures of the treated alloy were investigated by means of the optical microscopy (OM). The impact toughness of the specimens was also examined. The fractographs of the samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that, with the addition of fluctuation or modifying agents, the primary carbides were refined and the impact toughness of the alloys was improved, especially with the combination of them.     

高铬铸铁衬板中两种碳化物形态对耐磨性的影响

用微观组织分析、杆盘式磨损、湿磨法磨损和冲击韧性等试验手段，对高铬铸铁衬板的显微组织、力学性能和耐磨性进行了试验分析。结果表明，高铬铸铁中具有定向排列且垂直于磨损表面的碳化物形态与马氏体基体的适当配合，可提高衬板的耐磨性。     

Experimental investigation on heat treatment of a high‐speed steel for hot rolling roll mill

The authors describe the researching results to optimise the hardening and tempering of the high carbon high‐speed steel for rolls containing 2.38%C, 5.07%V, 6.34%Mo, 5.09%Cr, 1.20%Ni, 1.17%Nb, 0.09%Ti and 0.05%RE by means of light optical microscope (LOM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), backscattered electron image (BSE), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and hardness, tensile strength, impact toughness and wear testers. The results show that the microstructure of above casting high‐speed steel is given by a tempered martensitic matrix surrounded by eutectic carbides. Casting high‐speed steel has higher hardness quenching at 1280 K–1340 K, and it has higher hardness, tensile strength, impact toughness, and abrasive wear resistance tempering at 793 K–833 K. The comprehensive properties of casting high‐speed steel is the best while air‐cooling quenching about 1340 K and tempering about 813 K.     

Identification of Cu-rich precipitates in pearlitic spheroidal graphite cast irons

This investigation studies the partitioning of Mn and Cu – and Si– between ferrite and cementite in the pearlite of two alloys containing similar Mn and Si concentrations, but different Cu contents, keeping the Cu concentration within the usual industrial limits. The results confirm the partitioning of all the elements between ferrite and cementite during pearlite growth. Furthermore, the presence of nanometric Cu-rich precipitates was detected for an alloy with typical Cu contents for achieving pearlitic structures in spheroidal graphite cast irons. This might be linked to the microsegregation of Cu developed during the solidification step. These precipitates have not been reported before and cannot be ignored as they can affect the transformation kinetics and the mechanical properties of the alloy.     

Cooling slope casting of cast iron

The aim of the present work is to study the effect of semi‐solid processing using cooling slope method on the microstructure and mechanical properties of grey cast iron. A water cooled castable cement coated steel plate with a variable inclination angle is used to make a mechanical treatment on the semi‐solid flow of grey cast iron. The experiment is repeated for three different pouring temperatures and three inclination angles. The tensile test, hardness test and microstructure examination is used to compare the new properties of the new resulting grey cast irons. The results show that the sharp edged carbon flakes can be refined and the mechanical properties is enhanced. The carbon particles average circularity is increased followed with a decrease in carbon particle size due to the effect of the cooling plate.     

A practical method for fatigue limit prediction in ductile cast irons

A simple, reasonably accurate method was proposed for fatigue limit prediction in ductile cast irons (DCIs) containing small defects, employing an easy‐to‐use prediction equation. A technique was also presented for the estimation of the statistical effects of complex structural discontinuities, as characterized by graphite and casting defects. The validity of these approaches was confirmed by the experimental results obtained via rotating‐bending fatigue tests on six DCIs, with varying distributions of graphite nodule size and different matrix structures.     

Verschleißanalyse gewalzter und geschliffener Eisenbasislegierungsschichten mit und ohne Hartstoffverstärkung

In this research work the wear behavior of thermal sprayed wear resistant coatings, which are finished by incremental roller burnishing and by grinding in order to smooth the surface, are analyzed by means of the Pin‐on‐Disc test. Two different arc sprayed coatings WSC‐FeCSiMn and FeCrBSiMn are compared to each other. At first the microstructure of the smoothed coatings were characterized by investigation of the topography and morphology. After that the wear behavior was analyzed with two different counterparts made of stainless steel and ceramic. In order to determine the different wear mechanisms the wear traces have been investigated by scanning electron microscope.