Investigations of Microstructures and Erosion–Corrosion Performance of Cast Boron-Bearing Stainless Steel

Abstract

The microstructures and erosion–corrosion properties of boron-bearing stainless steel were researched by an erosion–corrosion tester, energy dispersive X–ray spectrometry, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction analysis. The microstructures of as-cast, boron-bearing stainless steel contain M7(B,C)3, M2(B,C) borocarbides and the martensite matrix; the matrix has less chromium and more nickel than those in the M2(B,C) and M7(B,C)3. The microstructures in heat-treated, boron-bearing stainless steel consist of M7(B,C)3, M2(B,C) and M23(B,C)6 borocarbides and ferrite, and the Rockwell hardness of heat-treated, boron-bearing stainless steel is lower than that of as-cast steel. For Cr28 white cast iron and boron-bearing stainless steel, the mixing wheel with higher rotating speed leads to a higher erosion–corrosion weight loss, and as the impingement angle increases, the erosion–corrosion weight loss increases first, and then decreases. For any erosion–corrosion experiment conditions, the erosion–corrosion resistance of boron-bearing stainless steel is better than that of Cr28 white cast iron.