Study of the Erosive-abrasive Wear Resistance of Fe-14%Cr-2.8%C High Chromium Cast Iron

High chromium cast irons (HCCIs) are widely applied in the mining industry as components of equipment for iron ore transportation, in which their surfaces are subjected to abrasive and erosive wear. The present work evaluated the erosion-abrasion behavior of a HCCI possessing different amounts of austenite and martensite, using a laboratory impeller-tumbler wear test apparatus and iron ore pellets as abrasive material. The results showed that the wear dominant mechanism on the worn surface of the as-cast material depends upon the material microstructure. For HCCI destabilized at 930 and 990 degrees C, the matrix has high martensite/austenite ratio and finely dispersed secondary carbides, offering high abrasion-erosion wear resistance. The absence of fractured eutectic carbides indicates that such matrix has hardness and load bearing capacity, enough for mitigating a significant plastic deformation during the impact pellets. For HCCI destabilized at 1050 degrees C, the matrix has a low martensite/austenite ratio and coalesced secondary carbides, leading to high wear rates during erosion-abrasion tests.