EFFECT OF HEAT TREATMENT ON ABRASION WEARRESISTANCE OF STEEL WITH MICRO-ADDITIVES OF BORONAND VANADIUM

Abstract

This paper presents the results of own research regarding the role of microstructure and mechanical propertiesin the abrasive wear of metallic materials, demonstrated on the example of low-alloyed steel with micro--additives of boron and vanadium. The first section discusses the current knowledge relating to the influenceof microstructure and hardness on tribological conditions of materials. Further sections present the results ofmicrostructure observations performed with light microscopy as well as with scanning electron microscopyand transmission electron microscopy. This research has focused on the material both in the as-deliveredcondition (directly after casting) and after heat treatment, which involved quenching and tempering at threetemperatures: 200, 400, and 600C. The tribological tests were performed with the use of the T-07 tribometer,in the presence of loose #90 electro corundum abrasive particles. The test results have been discussed and anattempt has been made to correlate them with the microstructure and selected mechanical properties. In orderto identify wear mechanisms, the surfaces were visually inspected after the abrasion process. The inspectionresults indicate that the main wear mechanisms were microcutting and microploughing.