Effect of Lost-Foam Casting Process on Properties of Spiral Blade

Abstract

The wear failure mode of a paver spiral blade was simulated by EDEM software. High-manganese steel, medium chromium alloy steel, and high chromium alloy steel were selected as matrix materials; SiC particles and WC particles were selected as surface particle reinforcement materials; and the spiral blade was prepared by the EPC process. The performance and wear mechanism of the spiral blade prepared by EPC were analyzed by microstructure, hardness, impact, pin disk, erosion wear test, and wear morphology. Modeling with EDEM software and applying the discrete element analysis method of particle system could simulate the actual working situation of the spiral blade of the paver well. Through the simulation, it was found that the wear amount of the spiral blade of the paver from the spiral shaft to the outside of the spiral blade was increasing. SiC and WC particle-reinforced wear-resistant coatings were prepared on the surfaces of high-manganese steel, medium chromium alloy steel, and high chromium alloy steel by the EPC method. The wear-resistant coating of high-manganese steel was 5.05 mm, the coating of medium chromium alloy steel was 5.98 mm, and the coating of high chromium alloy steel was 7.02 mm. The higher the chromium content, the better the diffusion with SiC and WC particles. In the process of the wear test, the soft phase in the coating was first worn away and concaved, and the hard phase protruded to bear the wear. After wear, it was found that the sample with high chromium alloy steel as matrix and SiC and WC particles as wear-resistant coating had the best wear resistance.