Effect of Silica Size on the Relative Wear of Microstructures Containing Solidification Carbides and Tempered Martensite Using a Dry Sand Rubber Wheel Test

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of the size of silica sand particles on the wear resistance of two microstructures containing solidification M7C3 carbides in tempered martensite matrix (namely, AISI D2 steel and high-chromium white cast iron). Wear tests were conducted using abrasive silica sand particles of three different sizes (0.20, 0.50, and 1.0 mm) in a dry sand rubber wheel tribometer (DSRW) following the ASTM G65 standard. Subsequently, these samples were analyzed using microscopy and three-dimensional optical profilometry. The results showed that the wear loss increased with increased abrasive particle size, particularly when the abrasive size increased from 0.5 to 1.0 mm. The microscopic observation revealed silica sand incrustation and plastic deformation of the tempered martensite matrix, cracking of the solidification M₇C₃ carbides, and detachment of the carbides and matrix. Furthermore, the largest abrasive particle size triggered a more damaging wear mechanism, leading to severe fracture damage of the solidification carbides.

Keywords:

• Abrasive wear
• wear mechanisms
• ferrous alloys, steel
• metallurgical analysis
• surface roughness

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dra Bianka Nani Venturelli and Dr. Eduardo Albertin, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo, and Prof. Amilton Sinatora, Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo.

Declaration of interest statement

The authors report that there are no competing interests to declare.

Additional information

Funding

Prof. C. R. F. Azevedo acknowledges the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, grant 310583/2020-9). Prof. G. Pintaude acknowledges the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, grant 310523/2020-6).