Effect of Tempering Temperature on Microstructures and Wear Behavior of a 500 HB Grade Wear-Resistant Steel

Abstract

The microstructure and wear behavior of a 500 Brinell hardness (HB) grade wear-resistant steel tempered at different temperatures were investigated in this study. The tempering microstructures and wear surface morphologies were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The relationship between mechanical properties and wear resistance was analyzed. The microstructure of the steel mainly consisted of tempered martensite and ferrite. Tempered troosite was obtained when the tempering temperature was over 280 °C. The hardness decreased constantly with the increase of tempering temperature. The same hardness was obtained when tempered at 260 °C and 300 °C, due to the interaction of Fe3C carbides and dislocations. The impact toughness increased first and reached a peak value when tempered at 260 °C. As the tempering temperature was over 260 °C, carbide precipitation would occur along the grain boundaries, which led to temper embrittlement. The best wear resistance was obtained when tempered at 200 °C. At the initiation of the wear test, surface hardness was considered to be the dominant influencing factor on wear resistance. The effect of surface hardness improvement on wear resistance was far greater than the impact toughness. With the wear time extending, the crushed quartz sand particles and the cut-down burs would be new abrasive particles which would cause further wear. Otherwise, the increasing contact temperature would soften the matrix and the adhesive wear turned out to be the dominant wear mechanism, which would result in severe wear.