Two-body dry abrasive wear of cermets

The present paper concerns the two-body dry abrasive wear phenomenon of a series of cermets on the base of titanium and chromium carbides with different composition, using a “block on abrasive grinding wheel” test machine. WC–Co hardmetals were used as reference material. Abrasive wear resistance of WC-base hardmetals is superior to that of TiC- and Cr₃C₂-base cermets. The wear coefficient of the cermets reduces with the increase of carbide content in the composites. The volume wear decreases with the increase in bulk hardness. At the first period volume wear of cermets increases linearly with the sliding distance up to the first 100 m; after that the alumina grits become blunt. Scanning electron microscopy examination of the wear tracks in the worn blocks suggests that abrasive wear mechanisms of different cermets are similar and occur through surface elastic-plastic and plastic deformation (grooving). The fracturing of bigger carbide grains and carbide framework the formation of sub-surface cracks by a fatigue process under repeated abrasion is followed by loss of small volumes of the material.     

Two body dry abrasive wear of TiC–NiMo cermets

Abstract

The present paper covers the two body dry abrasive wear of a series of titanium carbide base cermets with different amounts of NiMo binder phases (20–60 wt-%) using a 'block on abrasive grinding wheel' test machine. The wear coefficient of the cermets decreases with increasing TiC and Mo contents in the composite, which corresponds to an increase in bulk hardness. The volume loss increases with the increases in the sliding distance and the applied normal load, as predicted by the Rabinowitcz equation. The post-run wear tracks of the worn blocks were analysed by SEM to determine the wear mechanisms. The material is actually removed by several processes which scale the process of groove formation, including the formation of subsurface cracks by a fatigue process under repeated abrasion.     

Friction and dry sliding wear behaviour of cermets

The friction and wear behaviour of cermets/steel rubbing pairs were investigated. Friction and wear tests were carried out using three different crèmets on the base of tungsten, titanium and chromium carbides under dry sliding conditions against steel disk (0.45% C). Sliding wear tests were carried out using modified block-on-ring equipment at a sliding speed of 2.2 m/s and normal load 40 N.It is shown that wear resistance and coefficient of friction depend on the type and chemical composition of the cermets. The WC–Co cermets have the highest wear resistance. The wear rate of WC–Co and TiC–NiMo cermets increased with increasing binder content in the cermets. The wear of Cr₃C₂–Ni cermets is more complicated and depends on the composition of cermets. The wear of WC–Co cermets is caused mainly by preferential removal of the cobalt binder, followed by fracture of the intergranular boundaries and fragmentation of the carbide grains. The main wear mechanism in the TiC–NiMo cermets is polishing (micro-abrasion) and adhesion, resulting in a low wear rate. The main wear mechanism of Cr₃C₂–Ni cermets involves thermal cracking and fatigue-related crushing of large carbide grains and carbide framework and also adhesion.     

Mechanical properties and features of erosion of cermets

The erosive wear resistance of cermets with different composition, structure and properties has been investigated. It has been shown that cermets erosive wear resistance cannot be estimated only by hardness, characterised by resistance to penetration. The differences in wear resistance between cermet materials with equal hardness level can be attributed to differences in their resistance to fracture. The present paper discusses some features of the material removal process during the particle–wall collision. Solid particle erosion tests on eight materials have been performed using silicon carbide and silica abrasive particles within a range of erodent size of 0.1–0.3 mm, impact angles from 30 to 90° and particle velocity from 30 to 80 m s⁻¹. In order to clarify the details of the impact, the process of interaction of solid particles with cermet targets was studied using a laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) measuring technique. Systematic studies of the influence of the impact variables on the collision process have been carried out.     

Abrasive erosive wear of powder steels and cermets

Composite materials produced by powder metallurgy provide solutions to many engineering applications that require materials with high abrasive wear resistance. The actual wear behaviour of a material is associated with many external factors (abrasive particle size, velocity and angularity) and intrinsic material properties of wear (hardness, toughness, Young modulus, etc.). Hardness and toughness properties of wear resistant materials are highly dependent on the content of the reinforcing phase, its size and on the mechanical properties of the constituent phase. This study is focused on the analysis of the (AEW) abrasive erosive wear (solid particle erosion) using different wear devices and abrasives. Powder materials (steels, cermets and hardmetals) were studied. Wear resistance of materials and wear mechanisms were studied and compared with those of commercial steels. Based on the results of wear studies, surface degradation mechanisms are proposed. The following parameters characterizing the materials were found necessary in materials creation and selection: hardness (preferably in scale comparable with impact), type of structure (preferably hardmetal type) and wear parameters characterizing material removal at plastic deformation.     

Investigations on the influence of graphite filler on dry sliding wear and abrasive wear behaviour of carbon fabric reinforced epoxy composites

In this experimental study, the dry sliding wear and two-body abrasive wear behaviour of graphite filled carbon fabric reinforced epoxy composites were investigated. Carbon fabric reinforced epoxy composite was used as a reference material. Sliding wear experiments were conducted using a pin-on-disc wear tester under dry contact condition. Mass loss was determined as a function of sliding velocity for loads of 25, 50, 75, and 100 N at a constant sliding distance of 6000 m. Two-body abrasive wear experiments were performed under multi-pass condition using silicon carbide (SiC) of 150 and 320 grit abrasive papers. The effects of abrading distance and different loads have been studied. Abrasive wear volume and specific wear rate as a function of applied normal load and abrading distance were also determined.The results show that in dry sliding wear situations, for increased load and sliding velocity, higher wear loss was recorded. The excellent wear characteristics were obtained with carbon-epoxy containing graphite as filler. Especially, 10 wt.% of graphite in carbon-epoxy gave a low wear rate. A graphite surface film formed on the counterface was confirmed to be effective in improving the wear characteristics of graphite filled carbon-epoxy composites. In case of two-body abrasive wear, the wear volume increases with increasing load/abrading distance. Experimental results showed the type of counterface (hardened steel disc and SiC paper) material greatly influences the wear behaviour of the composites. Wear mechanisms of the composites were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. Wear of carbon-epoxy composite was found to be mainly due to a microcracking and fiber fracture mechanisms. It was found that the microcracking mechanism had been caused by progressive surface damage. Further, it was also noticed that carbon-epoxy composite wear is reduced to a greater extent by addition of the graphite filler, in which wear was dominated by microplowing/microcutting mechanisms instead of microcracking.     

Abrasive wear of WC-FeAl composites

The abrasive wear behavior of tungsten-carbide iron-aluminide composite materials was investigated using a pin-on-drum wear-testing machine. Samples were prepared by uniaxially hot pressing blended powders. The wear rates of specimens containing 40 vol.% matrix of atomic composition, Fe₆₀Al₄₀, were measured and results compared with those of conventional WC-10 vol.% Co hardmetal. They were found to be comparable to those of WC-10% Co hardmetal, when abraded by 120 μm SiC papers under identical conditions. The wear resistance of WC-Fe₆₀Al₄₀ composites increased with reduction in WC-grain size and associated with increase in composite hardness. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the wear surfaces of WC-40% Fe₆₀Al₄₀ composites and WC-Co hardmetal were similar in appearance. The higher hardness and work hardening ability of Fe₆₀Al₄₀ binder, as compared to Co metal, are believed to be responsible for the excellent abrasive wear resistance of WC composites containing iron aluminide binder.     

Fine-particle slurry wear resistance of selected tungsten carbide thermal spray coatings

The surface degradation of tungsten carbide based thermal spray coatings when exposed to fine-particle slurry abrasion has been investigated. The coatings that were studied contain binder-phase constituents consisting of either nickel or cobalt. The coatings were deposited onto test cylinders using a detonation gun device. After applying approximately 0.15 mm thickness of thermal spray coating, the coatings were ground, then diamond polished to achieve surface roughnesses of 0.03 μm Ra or less. The coatings were exposed to a three-body abrasive wear test involving zirconia particles (less than 3 μm diameter) in a water-based slurry. Results show that preferential binder wear plays a significant role in the wear of these tungsten carbide coatings by fine abrasives. In the comparison presented here, the coating containing nickel-based binder with a dense packing of primary carbides was superior in terms of retaining its surface finish upon exposure to abrasion. The coating containing a cobalt binder showed severe surface degradation.     

Oxidation-abrasion of TiC-based cermets in SiC medium

The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of oxidation on abrasive wear behaviour of TiC based cermets at temperatures ranging from 20 to 900 °C. Three types of material performance maps were constructed: oxidation rate maps, wear rate maps and maps showing the effect of oxidation on abrasion. Discussion on the performance of different cermet grades is supported by the SEM images combined with EDS and XRD analysis. The results should facilitate the selection of TiC-based cermets providing optimum composition of cermets for high temperature applications.     

Dynamic SEM Wear Studies of Tungsten Carbide Cermets

Dynamic friction and wear experiments were conducted in a scanning electron microscope. The wear behavior of pure tungsten carbide and composite with 6 and 15 weight percent cobalt binder was examinded. Etching of the binder was done to selectively determine the role of the binder in the wear process. Dynamic experiments were conducted as the WC and bonded WC cermet surfaces were transversed by a 50 micron radiused diamond stylus. These studies show that the predominant wear process in WC is fracture initiated by plastic deformation. The wear of the etched cermets is similar to pure WC. The presence of the cobalt binder reduces both friction and wear. The cementing action of the cobalt reduces granular separation and promotes a dense polished layer because of its low shear strength film-forming properties. The wear debris generated from unetched surface is approximately the same composition as the bulk.     

Comparison on abrasive wear of SiCrFe, CrFeC and Al2O3 reinforced Al2024 MMCs

The effects of volume fraction and size of SiCrFe, CrFeC, and Al₂O₃ particulates on the abrasive wear rate of compo-casted Al2024 metal matrix composites (MMCs) were studied. The process variables like the stirring speed, position and the diameter of the stirrer have affected the diffusion between particulates and matrix.The abrasive wear rate was decreased by the increase in particulate volume fraction of SiCrFe and CrFeC intermetallic reinforced composites over 80 grade SiC abrasive paper. The wear rates of the all composites decreased with aging treatment, and the best result was seen for the composite having a hybrite structure as SiCrFe and CrFeC particulates together. Nevertheless, the fabrication of composites containing soft particles as copper favors a reduction in the friction coefficient.     

Three-body abrasion behavior of ultrafine WC–Co hardmetal RX8UF with carborundum,corundum and silica sands in water-based slurries

The wear behavior of ultrafine WC–Co hardmetal RX8UF under water-based slurries with different concentrations of carborundum, corundum and silica sands was investigated through a modified ASTM B611 test system. Under the same conditions, the wear loss and rate of the specimen increased with the increase in abrasive hardness and concentration. The morphology examination on the worn surfaces revealed that when the specimen was worn with SiC the predominant wear mechanism was plastic groove and fracture of WC grains, but with Al₂O₃ or SiO₂ it would be the extrusion of binder followed by pullout of WC grains.     

Effect of carbide fraction and matrix microstructure on the wear of cast iron balls tested in a laboratory ball mill

The effect of carbide volume fraction from 13 to 41% on the wear resistance of high chromium cast irons was evaluated by means of ball mill testing. Martensitic, pearlitic and austenitic matrices were evaluated.

The 50-mm diameter balls were tested simultaneously in a 40 cm diameter ball mill. Hematite, phosphate rock and quartz sand were wet ground. The tests were conducted for 200 h.

Quartz sand caused the highest wear rates, ranging from 6.5 to 8.6 μm/h for the martensitic balls, while the wear rates observed for the phosphate rock ranged from 1.4 to 2.9 μm/h.

Increasing the carbide volume fraction resulted in decreased wear rates for the softer abrasives. The almost complete protection of the matrix by carbides in eutectic microstructures caused the eutectic alloy to present the best performance against hematite or phosphate rock. The opposite effect was observed for the quartz sand. The quartz abrasive rapidly wears out the matrix, continuously exposing and breaking carbide branches. A martensitic steel presented the best performance against the quartz abrasive.

With phosphate rock, the wear rate of 30% carbide cast irons increased from 1.46 to 2.84 and to 6.39 μm/h as the matrix changed, respectively, from martensitic to austenitic and to pearlitic. Wear profiles of worn balls showed that non-martensitic balls presented deep subsurface carbide cracking, due to matrix deformation. Similar behavior was observed in the tests with the other abrasives.

In pin-on-disc tests, austenitic samples performed better than the martensitic ones. This result shows that pin tests in the presence of retained austenite can be misleading.     

Binder extrusion in sliding wear of WC-Co alloys

It has previously been proposed that preferential removal of the cobalt binder is an important mechanism in the abrasive wear of cemented carbides in the WC-Co family. It is here demonstrated that binder extrusion occurs also in metal-to-metal sliding wear contacts. The wear scar generated by sliding a hardened steel ball repeatedly over a polished WC-Co surface was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The extruded cobalt fragments accumulate at surface defects, such as cracks caused by the sliding loaded ball, and gradual microfragmentation of the carbide grains follows. The energy required to extrude the cobalt and to cause the gradual change in surface layer microstructure is provided by the frictional forces.     

Relation Between Inter-Particle Distance (<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis><Subscript>IPD</Subscript>) and Abrasion in Multiphase Matrix–Carbide Materials

Five different carbide–matrix coatings (laser claddings) have been investigated about correlation of their specific structural parameters—especially volumetric carbide distribution—with ASTM G65 abrasion wear rates. For this study, the hardphase networks of laser claddings have been characterized by specific structural parameters, such as mean inter-particle distance, mean carbide diameter, carbide area fraction, and matrix hardness. To generate quantitative values for the inter-particle distances a particular method was developed. From regression analyses, it has become evident that wear effects arising from carbide inter-particle distance surpass the influence of carbide diameter and that of carbide fraction. Only minor contribution to abrasive wear rates is related with matrix hardness.     

The role of lubrication and corrosion in abrasion of materials in aqueous environments

A rubber wheel type test apparatus has been constructed which allows abrasion testing to be conducted in slurry or dry environments in otherwise identical conditions. Abrasion tests of a steel, a sintered tungsten carbide–cobalt hardmetal and an HVOF sprayed nickel chrome–chromium carbide cermet coating have been performed in dry and aqueous slurry conditions, the latter with both neutral and acidic carriers. It has been shown that the aqueous carrier acts as an effective lubricant and thus significantly reduces the abrasion rate over that observed in dry conditions. However, enhancement of corrosion by use of an acid slurry lead to an increase in the rate of material removal over that of the neutral aqueous conditions in all cases. Increases were small for the corrosion resistant cermet coating and moderate for the steel. Significant enhancement of wear was observed for the sintered WC–Co hardmetal where rapid removal of the cobalt binder by the acid resulted in a change in dominant mechanism of carbide removal from attritive wear to pullout.     

Experimental study of lapping and electropolishing of tungsten carbides

Lapping and electropolishing (EP) experiments for tungsten carbide blocks were executed. The effectiveness of the lapping experiment is evaluated in terms of the material removal rate, the surface roughness, and wear of the workpiece. The material removal rate describes the thickness removal of the workpiece under a fixed surface area. Wear describes a microscopic study of the wear track. The results show that the material removal and surface roughness increase as the grain size of the abrasive increases. Four main wear mechanisms -- abrasive wear, fracture, adhesive wear and scratch -- are observed during the lapping of tungsten carbide using silicon carbide abrasive. In the electropolishing experiment, four different machining characteristics -- sub-electropolishing, crack, electropolishing, and pitting -- can be analyzed as the applied current is increased. Although material removal is close to Faraday’s law during electropolishing, it disagrees with Faraday’s law after 400 s of sub-electropolishing.     

Microstructure and failure modes during scratch testing of laser cladded WC–NiCrBSi coatings with spherical and angular carbides

Abstract

Laser cladded coatings have been used extensively to extend the service life of components exposed to severe abrasive wear. One of the main wear resistant materials used in laser cladding is ceramic–metallic composite. Despite extensive use of this class of material, there is very limited knowledge regarding mechanical degradation mechanisms, such as cracking and plastic deformation, under different wear conditions. In this investigation a mixture of nickel alloy and tungsten carbide powders were used to deposit the coating. Two types of tungsten carbide powders with spherical and angular carbides were employed. The microstructures of the coatings were analysed thoroughly by optical microscopy, electron probe microanalysis and wavelength dispersive spectrometry. Failure and cracking mechanisms of laser cladded coatings under normal and tangential loading were systematically investigated using scratch testing. In the nickel alloy matrix, fine mixed secondary carbides were formed due to partial dissolution and formation of the secondary tungsten carbide during laser cladding. These secondary carbides were rich in chromium, tungsten and nickel and had a blocky and/or bar-like shape. Failure mechanisms associated with scratch testing were dependent on the microstructure and carbide morphology, applied stress and location of carbide particles with regard to the scratch groove. Owing to the high binder mean free path between the carbide particles, plastic deformation of the binder was the dominant failure mechanism. Additionally, partial or whole fragmentation of carbides, carbide/binder interface cracking and limited binder fracture were observed.     

High temperature erosion of Ti(Mo)C–Ni cermets

The resistance of Ti(Mo)C–Ni cermets of different binder content to solid particle erosion was evaluated at 25, 350 and 650 °C. The elevated temperature erosion of cermets containing 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 wt.% of titanium carbides and produced from the powder of initially different ratios of Ni to Mo were tested with the help of specially designed centrifugal particle accelerator using silica as the abrasive. Erosion rate was related to both microstructure developed during sintering and materials removal mechanisms operating at the test conditions (impact angle of particles jet was 30° and 90° and velocity was 50 ms⁻¹). The erosion rate decreases with the increase of TiC and Mo contents in the composite. At 650 °C the process of tribo-oxidation affected the material performance to a great extent. The morphology of the worn surface was analyzed with SEM to determine the erosion mechanisms.     

基于分形理论的磨粒磨损模型

本文在M-B接触分形模型的基础上,根据塑变磨损理论导出了基于分形参数的磨粒磨损模型,建立了磨损率与分形维数之间的关系,综合反映了材料的磨损规律和表面特性。根据该模型可知,当分形维数在某一范围时,磨损率随分形维数的减小而迅速增大;而在另一范围时,磨损率随分形维数的增大而增大;当分形维数等于1.5时,磨损率达到最小值。当分形维数一定时,磨损率随尺度系数、磨损概率常数的增大而增大,随材料性能参数的增大而减小;当其余各影响参数保持一定值时,磨损率随接触面积的增大而增大。