AN ANALYSYS OF WEAR AND MECHANICAL AND TRIBOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF HIGH-MANGANESE CAST STEEL HARDENED BY DIFFERENT METHODS

Abstract

Properties of high manganese austenitic cast steel are not satisfactory; therefore, this material should be hardened. Currently, the commonly used method of hardening does not allow eliminating problems related to premature wear of railway frogs. Therefore, many studies have been carried out to find an alternative method to obtain improved wear resistance of such elements. The article presents an analysis of the mechanical and tribological properties of base and hardened, by different methods, high-manganese cast steel applied for turnouts. Tests were performed for three hardening methods: explosive, pressure-rolling, and dynamic impact. The results were compared with the properties of base material after saturation treatment. The conducted tests allowed the determination of hardness profiles of hardened surfaces, as well as the wear resistance and coefficient of friction, and the obtained results are very promising. Hardening by dynamic impact provided much better results in relation to presently used explosive hardening technology.