INFLUENCE OF PRE-HARDENED GX120Mn13 CAST STEEL ON THE TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES UNDER TECHNICALLY DRY FRICTION

Abstract

This paper presents the results of tribological tests on high manganese GX120Mn13 cast steel under technically dry friction conditions. The tests were carried out using a TRB3 ball-on-disc tribometer using a 6mm-diameter SiC ball as a counter-sample for a specimen made of GX120Mn13 cast steel containing a localised prehardening area on the test surface with a hardness of approximately 597 HV10 (the non-hardened area had a hardness of approximately 325-364 HV10). During the test, the ball travelled in a 16.68 mm diameter circle and passed through both hardening and non-hardened areas. The resulting erosion marks were assessed using an optical profilometer and scanning microscope tests, which showed that the maximum depth of erosion in the previously hardening area was 0.77 μm and was more than twice as deep as in the non-hardened areas surveyed. In contrast, the area of attrition was twice as small as in the non-hardened area located in the axis of the previously applied load and more than three times smaller, but in the area located on the side of the axis and 8.34 mm away from it. Thus, from the point of view of the abrasion resistance of GX120Mn13 cast steel, the validity of its prior hardening before the operation was confirmed.