Wear and Corrosion Resistance of Hardened Fe-Al-Mn Grinding Ball

Abstract

Objective:This study aimed to determine the effect of hardening temperature on microstructure, wear and corrosion resistance of Fe-Al-Mn alloy grinding ball.Methods:Hardening process was carried out at 900oC, 950oC, 1000oC, 1050oC and 1100oC, held for 60 minutes and cooled using SAE 20 oil. Tests included chemical composition, SEM-EDS, wear and corrosion resistance test.Results:Chemical composition test results show that this alloy is high alloy steel because it contains 3.6% aluminum (Al), 13.6% manganese (Mn) and 1.1% carbon (C). Microstructures found are austenite, ferrite and kappa. EDS test results show that in the austenite phase, C decreased when hardening temperature increased. Ferrite phase contains Mn which increased when hardening temperature increased while C was the other way around. Mn is relatively stable in the kappa phase. The best wear and corrosion resistance (4.3 x 10-7mm2/kg and 0.00026 mm/yr) of hardened Fe-Al-Mn grinding ball occurred at 900oC. The corrosion rate is extraordinary.Conclusion:Microstructures of the Fe-Al-Mn alloy grinding ball after the hardening process are austenite, ferrite and kappa.