Surface Wear in Hadfield Steel Castings DOPED with Nitrided Vanadium

Abstract

This paper examines possible industrial applications of high manganese steel and the feasibility of its inoculation with a new ferroalloy, vanadium nitride. The abrasive and impact-abrasion surface wear experienced by castings has a classical pattern: microcutting—i.e., the deformation twinning of surface layers. Ferrovanadium nitride enhances the surface resistance of castings both as a cast and as thermally treated. A fine grain structure is formed in the surface layers, specifically layers in direct contact with abrasive particles. The deformation twins that are present at the solid solution grain boundaries tend to change their orientation and characteristics. The impact-abrasion wear also leads to hardened layer formation at the working surface due to deformation twinning. The carbides (nitrides) present in the surface wear do not produce any significant impact on the process of deformation twinning. As the wear line extends deeper into the casting surface, the carbides and nitrides are ripped out and cavities occur in the wearing zone. The wear is controlled by the solidification rate. Thus, at lower rates a hardened layer is formed, which accommodates adjacent areas with differing twin characteristics, such as orientation and spacing.