Temperature Influence on abrasive resistance of quenched and tempered steels

The test evaluates wear resistance of quenched and tempered steels of 8 grade materials. The steels are low alloyed carbon steels within a hardness range of 120HV to 600HV. The carbon content in the range of 0.3-0.6%. The wear tests were undertaken in a laboratory at SSAB in Oxelösund with a newly designed wear test machine. The wear performance was evaluated by abrasive material clinkers and slag in Room temperature as well as High temperature at 400°C. Eight samples are used for each test, the samples are placed inside the drum with sample holders. The wear test performed by 217mm diameter drum rotate over the two-horizontal bar at 37 RPM, thus creating sliding, rolling and some impact over the surface of the materials. Investigations were performed by weight measurements of the samples, hardness measurements at room temperature, after the 400°C test, and at high temperatures up to 400°C, and light optical microscopy examinations. The results show that wear rate at Room temperature depends on hardness of material and hardness of abrasive material. The wear rate at high temperature 400°C show that wear rate depends on alloying element and the tempering temperature of the material.