Improvement of toughness of high chromium white cast iron: duplex ferritic-austenitic matrix

It is attempted to enhance the impact toughness of industrially used high chromium white cast iron (WCI) without sacrificing wear resistance. The microstructure is engineered by cyclic annealing to obtain features such as duplex grain matrix, where austenite envelops ferrite grain, refined M₇C₃ carbide. The newly cast and heat-treated alloy shows remarkable impact toughness i.e. 13J with improved wear resistance. The fracture micro-mechanism is studied through extensive scanning electron microscopy and it is ascertained that enhanced impact toughness results from crack arrest at duplex grain boundaries. A few other toughness enhancing features are also discussed. The results are compared with standard ASTM grade Class-III high chromium WCI and are found to be encouraging.