RETRACTED: Development of high-manganese steels for heavy duty cast-to-shape applications (Retracted Article)

In 1882, Robert Hadfield patented the steel that bears his name. It has the nominal composition Fe-1.2% C-13% Mn. This alloy has an enormous capacity for work-hardening upon impact and is still commonly used for railroad components such as frogs and crossings and also for rock-handling equipment. As such, it can hardly be considered to be an "advanced material". However, studies at Queen's University have shown that part of this capacity for work-hardening may be "traded" to provide alloys which are appreciably stiffer, have significantly better wear resistance and may be cast to near net shape to produce components which still possess remarkable toughness. These materials were produced by the addition of minor amounts of other carbide-forming and solid-solution strengthening elements and by heat-treating the as-cast components. The production and characterisation of these alloys will be described. (C) 2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.