Microstructure and Properties of Fe-B-C Cast Wear-Resistant Alloy

The microstructure, toughness, hardness and wear resistance of Fe-B-C cast wear-resistant alloy were studied. The results indicate that, the as-cast Fe-B-C alloy comprises pearlite, ferrite and eutectic phase Fe2 (B, C), and that, with increasing boron and carbon contents, the boride volume fraction (BVF) and macrohardness increase; furthermore, when boron content increases from about 0.5 wt.% to 2.0 wt.%, the increase trend of the macrohardness will become smaller with increasing the carbon content. The results also indicate that, after heat-treatment, the Fe2 (B, C) becomes coarser than that as cast condition, and the boron content has less effect on the martensite hardness at the same carbon content; with increasing boron and carbon contents, the hardness of the samples increases and inversely the toughness decreases. At a lower BVF, the matrix plays a dominant role on the impact toughness of Fe-B-C alloy; however, at a higher BVF, the BVF plays a dominant role. The wear test results indicate that, with increasing the boron and carbon contents, the weight loss of the samples decreases, namely, the increase of wear resistance.