Kazumichi Shimizu

Effect of Destabilizing Heat Treatment on Solid-State Phase Transformation in High-Chromium Cast Irons

This work describes the influence of secondary carbide precipitation at destabilizing heat treatment on kinetics of austenite phase transformation at a subcritical range of temperatures in high-Cr cast irons, alloyed with 4 to 6 wt pct of Mn or by complex Mn-Ni-Mo (Mn-Cu-Mo). The samples were soaked at 1073xa0K to 1373xa0K (800 xa0°C to 1100 xa0°C) (destabilization) or at 573xa0K to 973xa0K (300 xa0°C to 700 xa0°C) (subcritical treatment); the combination of destabilization and subcritical treatment was also used. The investigation was carried out with application of optical and electron microscopy and bulk hardness measurement. Time-temperature-transformation (TTT) curves of secondary carbide precipitation and pearlite transformation for as-cast austenite and destabilized austenite were built in this work. It was determined that the secondary carbide precipitation significantly inhibited the pearlite transformation rate at 823xa0K to 973xa0K (550 xa0°C to 700 xa0°C). The inhibition effect is more evident in cast irons alloyed with complex Mn-Ni-Mo or Mn-Cu-Mo. The possible reasons for transformation decelerating could be austenite chemical composition change (enriching by Ni, Si, and Cu, and depleting by Cr) and stresses induced by secondary carbide precipitation.

Effect of vanadium and chromium on the microstructural features of V-Cr-Mn-Ni spheroidal carbide cast irons

The objective of this investigation is to study the influence of vanadium (5.0wt%–10.0wt%) and chromium (0–9.0wt%) on the microstructure and hardness of Cr-V-Mn-Ni white cast irons with spheroidal vanadium carbides. The alloys’ microstructural features are presented and discussed with regard to the distribution of phase elements. The structural constituents of the alloys are spheroidal VC, proeutectoid cementite, ledeburite eutectic, rosette-shaped carbide eutectic (based on M7C3), pearlite, martensite, and austenite. Their combinations and area fraction (AF) ratios are reported to be influenced by the alloys’ chemical composition. Spheroidized VC particles are found to be sites for the nucleation of carbide eutectics. Cr and V are shown to substitute each other in the VC and M7C3 carbides, respectively. Chromium alloying leads to the formation of a eutectic (γ-Fe + M7C3), preventing the appearance of proeutectoid cementite in the structure. Vanadium and chromium are revealed to increase the total carbide fraction and the amount of austenite in the matrix. Cr is observed to play a key role in controlling the metallic matrix microstructure.

Abrasive wear resistance of spheroidal vanadium carbide cast irons

The effect of the chemical composition and heat treatment on the microstructure and abrasive wear resistance of V-Mn, V-Ni-Cr, and V-Mo spheroidal vanadium carbide cast irons (18–23 vol %) has been studied. The wear resistance has been determined under conditions of wear by abrasives with various hardnesses, i.e., corundum and quartz and compared to that of high-chromium cast iron with 13% Cr. It has been found that the advisability of using high-vanadium cast irons is governed by the hardness of the abrasive. When a hard abrasive, i.e., corundum was used, V-Mo cast iron with the maximum concentration of spheroidal VC carbides, which were uniformly distributed in the martensitic matrix, had the highest wear resistance. When a soft abrasive, i.e., quartz, was applied, high-chromium cast iron with a hardness of 68 HRC, which contained the largest amount of M7C3 carbides, was more wear-resistant. In the course of isothermal exposure at 300–1000°C, V-Ni-Cr and V-Mo cast irons with an austenitic structure had high resistance to phase and structural transformations. However, the properties and microstructure of V-Mo cast irons with a martensitic matrix depended strongly on the temperature of exposure during heat treatment.

Abrasive resistance of metastable V–Cr–Mn–Ni spheroidal carbide cast irons using the factorial design method

Full factorial design was used to evaluate the two-body abrasive resistance of 3wt%C–4wt%Mn–1.5wt%Ni spheroidal carbide cast irons with varying vanadium (5.0wt%–10.0wt%) and chromium (up to 9.0wt%) contents. The alloys were quenched at 920°C. The regression equation of wear rate as a function of V and Cr contents was proposed. This regression equation shows that the wear rate decreases with increasing V content because of the growth of spheroidal VC carbide amount. Cr influences the overall response in a complex manner both by reducing the wear rate owing to eutectic carbides (M7C3) and by increasing the wear rate though stabilizing austenite to deformation-induced martensite transformation. This transformation is recognized as an important factor in increasing the abrasive response of the alloys. By analyzing the regression equation, the optimal content ranges are found to be 7.5wt%–10.0wt% for V and 2.5wt%–4.5wt% for Cr, which corresponds to the alloys containing 9vol%–15vol% spheroidal VC carbides, 8vol%–16vol% M7C3, and a metastable austenite/martensite matrix. The wear resistance is 1.9–2.3 times that of the traditional 12wt% V–13wt% Mn spheroidal carbide cast iron.

Fatigue Characteristic of Spheroidal Vanadium Carbides Cast Iron

The purpose of this study is to investigate the fatigue characteristic and fatigue fracture mechanism of the high V-Cr-Ni spheroidal carbide cast iron (SCI-VCrNi) with spheroidal vanadium carbide (VC) dispersed within austenitic stainless matrix microstructure. The SCI-VCrNi that has high hardness was developed by 10mass%V adding to 18-8 stainless steel with spheroidal VC is distributed in the matrix. Firstly from the plane bending, the fatigue limit σw has been found to the 358MPa of SCI-VCrNi. Secondly, fracture surface observations were performed to clarify the fatigue mechanism of SCI-VCrNi. The fracture surface of SCI-VCrNi was so rough that the beach mark could not be observed. So, SEM was employed to observe, the fatigue fracture surface which showed a particular fatigue pattern. Also, many fracture cracks of VC were observed. In addition, the secondary cracks are shown at the interface between VC and the matrix. It can be suggested that the bondability between VC and the matrix is strong, and therefore, the propagation of cracks was delayed by the breakage of VC.

Wear Characteristics of Spheroidal Carbides Cast Irons in Uniaxial Rotary Glass Shredder

Spheroidal carbides cast irons (SCIs) are used in severe conditions where often occur erosion and due to their excellent wear resistance characteristics. In this study, three kinds of SCIs with a variation in matrices are tested and evaluated as shredding blade of uniaxial rotary glass shredder in recycling factories where often occurs extreme abrasion with the crushed glass. They are SCI-VCrNi, SCI-VMn, and SCI-Vw with hard (2400Hv) spheroidal vanadium carbides (VC). As a result, SCI-Vw reveals excellent wear resistance, approximately 1/12 of wear removal in weight, compare to other two materials of SCI-VCrNi and SCI-VMn. Spheroidal carbides nodularity(70%) and volume fraction of VCs(approximately 20%) are similar in three kinds of SCIs. The hardness of matrix of SCI-Vw (800Hv) is greater than that of SCI-VCrNi (320Hv) and SCI-VMn (380Hv). Therefore the experimental results are interpreted that hardness of matrix are dominant factor for abrasion. Based on this experimental study, SCI-Vw is an effective material for abrasion occurred on the blade of the glass shredder.

High Temperature Erosion Behaviors of High V-Cr-Ni Spheroidal Carbides Cast Iron

High temperature erosion occurs in production of the inorganic fibrous insulator in plant. Austenitic and martensitic stainless steels are often used for these severe high temperature erosion conditions. The paper presents erosion properties of some stainless steels, several cast iron and cast steel using a blast type high temperature erosion furnace. The solid particle erosion behavior at high temperatures (900°C) of carbon steel of S50C, carbon tool steel of SK3, SUS403, SUS630, and High V-Cr-Ni spheroidal carbides cast iron (SCI-VCrNi) are investigated. Alumina balls entrained in a stream of hot air impact on the target materials at an air velocity of 100 m/s. the impingement angle is 90°. The influence of the test temperature and the material removal are discussed. The high temperature erosion behaviors of specimens are discussed by the eroded surface morphology and vertical section observation using SEM and optical microscopy observations.

Effect of bulk heat treatment and plasma surface hardening on the microstructure and erosion wear resistance of complex-alloyed cast irons with spheroidal vanadium carbides

The results of an investigation of the effect of bulk quenching from temperature in the range of 760–1050°C, cryogenic treatment (–196°C) and surface plasma hardening on the abrasive-erosion wear of frugally alloyed V–Cr–Mn–Ni cast irons with spheroidal vanadium carbides have been presented in this article. It has been found that cast irons containing 5.0–7.5% V, 4.5–9.0% Cr, and 5.5–5.7% (total) of Mn and Ni after heat treatment have a 2–3-fold advantage in wear resistance compared to the prototype high-vanadium cast iron (11.9% V, 12.9% Mn). The maximum wear resistance of cast irons studied is achieved by quenching at 760°C followed by plasma surface hardening, as well as quenching at 840°C, followed by cryogenic treatment. These treatments result in the formation of an optimum microstructure that consists of spheroidal vanadium carbides, eutectic carbides M7C3, and a martensite-austenite matrix reinforced by secondary carbides. The increase in quenching temperature leads to an increase in the amount of residual austenite and decrease in the erosive wear resistance of cast irons.

Wear mechanism and chemical composition optimization of complex-alloyed cast iron with spheroidal vanadium carbide under conditions of abrasive erosion

Using full factorial design in experiment 32, the contents of vanadium and chromium in heattreated V–Cr–Mn–Ni cast irons with spheroidal vanadium carbide have been optimized with regard to the conditions of quartz sand erosion. It has been found that, in the case of bulk quenching from 760°C (or in combination with a subsequent plasma surface hardening), the maximum wear resistance of cast iron is achieved at 5.0% V and 2.0–4.5% Cr and, in the case of bulk quenching from 840°C followed by cryogenic treatment (–196°C), at 5.0% V and 7.0–9.0% Cr. It has been shown that the wear mechanism of the investigated alloys consists of the repeated deformation (indentation) of the matrix accompanied with spalling of spheroidal carbides and with chipping of eutectic carbides. Spheroidal vanadium carbides provide an effective protection of dendrites regions against erosion due to their uniform distribution in the bulk of the alloys.

Three-body abrasive wear behaviour of metastable spheroidal carbide cast irons with different chromium contents

Abstract The effect of heat treatment and chromium contents (up to 9.1u2009wt.%) on the wear resistance of spheroidal carbide cast iron (9.5u2009wt.% V) was studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, dilatometry and three-body abrasive testing. It was found that quenching from 760 °C and 920 °C improved the alloys’ wear resistance compared to the as-cast state due to the formation of metastable austenite transforming into martensite under abrasion. The wear characteristics of alloys studied are 1.6 – 2.3 times higher than that of reference cast iron (12u2009wt.% V) having stable austenitic matrix. Chromium addition decreases surface damage due to the formation of M7C3 carbides, while it reduces wear resistance owing to austenite stabilization to abrasion-induced martensite transformation. The superposition of these factors results in decreasing the alloys’ wear behaviour with chromium content increase.