Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High-Cr Cast Iron Bars Reinforced Hadfield Steel Matrix Composites

To obtain the compatible material of high hardness and high toughness,Hadfield steel matrix composites,reinforced by high-Cr cast iron bars made of flux-cored welding wires,which were inserted into the Hadfield steel melt,were investigated.The mechanical properties of three materials,i e,composites for as-cast and quenching-water condition,as well as Hadfield steel,were compared.The results show that the alloy powder inside flux-cored welding wires can be melted by the heat capacity of Hadfield steel melt and solidify into high-Cr cast iron bars.The impact toughness of the composite for quenching-water condition is higher than that of the composite for as-cast condition and is lower than that of the Hadfield steel,but it can still meet the requirements of hardness and toughness in industrial application.Regardless of load variation,composite for quenching-water condition shows better wear resistance than those of the composite for as-cast condition and Hadfield steel.The modified fracture toughness and wear resistance of composites are attributed to not only the combining actions of Hadfield steel matrix and high-Cr cast iron bars,but also the effect of heat treatment.