Wear analysis of two 400HB grade commercial steels exposed to impact-abrasion

Abstract

Commercial wear-resistant steels used in mining are generally categorized by their Brinell hardness. There are few studies comparing the wear resistance of this type of steel within the same hardness category. Considering the above, the objective of this work was to study the behavior of two 400HB commercial sheets of steel against impact-abrasive wear to determine other relevant aspects to consider in the abrasion resistance of this type of alloy. The chemical composition was determined using optical emission spectrometry, while their microstructure was studied using X-ray diffraction, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The impact-abrasive wear resistance of both materials was evaluated using equipment to determine the Bond abrasion index. Finally, hardness measurements and microhardness profiles were made on the samples tested. The results showed that both alloys could be categorized as low-carbon and low-alloyed steels quenched and tempered. Although hardness was found to be a significant parameter, other aspects should be considered to evaluate the wear resistance of these materials. It was found that challenging and brittle phases, such as non-quenched martensite, could adversely affect the wear resistance of these alloys in an impact-abrasive regime due to their tendency to fracture and peel off. Additionally, it was found that both sheets of steel experienced hardening due to the high plastic deformation produced during the tests; however, this was not enough to cause a decrease in the wear rate due to the severity of the impact-abrasive regime at which they were submitted.