Effect of vanadium on microstructure and wear behaviour of Fe based C-B-Ni hardfacing alloy

• Published in: International journal of cast metals research (Online) Vol. 28; no. 4; pp. 201 - 207
• Main Authors: Rovatti, L., Casati, R., Emami, A., Lecis, N., Stejskal, O., Andrianopoli, C., Vedani, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 01.08.2015
• Subjects: Carbides; Diffraction; Hardfacing; Hardfacing alloy; Microstructure; Solidification; Vanadium base alloys; Wear; Wear behaviour; Wear tests
• ISSN: 1364-0461; 1743-1336
• DOI: 10.1179/1743133614Y.0000000145

To investigate the influence of chemical compositions of different hardfacing alloys on wear performance experimental high vanadium Fe-C-B-Ni alloys in the form of blended powders have been cast in a laboratory furnace and analysed in three configurations: hypereutectic, near-eutectic and hypoeutectic. The solidification behaviour was defined by differential scanning calorimetry while the main microstructural features were characterised by microscopy, X-ray diffraction and microhardness as well as pin-on-disc wear tests. Fe-V rich powders to an originally hypereutectic Fe-C-B-Ni alloy induced the shift to hypoeutectic solidification and promoted the presence of larger quantities of hard V-rich carbides. The new V-bearing alloys showed higher wear performance and higher bulk hardness than the reference alloy. The improved wear properties were mainly due to the precipitation of fine V-rich carbides that effectively reinforced the structure without any evidence of pull-out and cracking of the smaller particles.