Effect of Varying the Volume Fractions of Ledeburitic Cementite and Graphite on the Tribological Properties of Commercially Used Cast Irons

The types and volume fractions of the carbonaceous phases present in the microstructures of cast irons strongly influence their properties. In the case of materials used commercially for tools, an important parameter with regard to their use is the resistance to abrasion wear. Cementite is the main...

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Main Authors: Łukasz Frocisz, Piotr Matusiewicz, Janusz Krawczyk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-11-01
Series:Lubricants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/11/12/498
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author Łukasz Frocisz
Piotr Matusiewicz
Janusz Krawczyk
author_facet Łukasz Frocisz
Piotr Matusiewicz
Janusz Krawczyk
author_sort Łukasz Frocisz
collection DOAJ
description The types and volume fractions of the carbonaceous phases present in the microstructures of cast irons strongly influence their properties. In the case of materials used commercially for tools, an important parameter with regard to their use is the resistance to abrasion wear. Cementite is the main reinforcing phase in cast irons and is present in significant quantities. In addition, cast irons contain graphite precipitates, which also affect wear by interacting with the matrix of the alloys. In this study, abrasive wear tests were carried out on a group of cast irons with different chemical compositions and, consequently, different microstructural morphologies. Due to the wide scatter of the results and the commercial rather than laboratory nature of the alloys studied, it was decided to use analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine whether there was a statistically significant difference between the volume fractions of the carbonaceous phases. The volume fractions of graphite and ledeburite were then related to the results of the tribological tests. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences in the results obtained for the alloys tested. A continuous increase in the volume fractions of both graphite and ledeburitic cementite is unfavourable in terms of the wear resistance and friction coefficient values. Optimum results can be obtained by balancing the volume fractions of the two phases observed. In addition, the phase composition of the material matrix plays an important role in wear, as the differences in the matrix of the tested alloys modify the nature of the influence of cementite and graphite on the wear.
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spelling doaj.art-a04160c14dc347bc85353545300db10b2023-12-22T14:21:41ZengMDPI AGLubricants2075-44422023-11-01111249810.3390/lubricants11120498Effect of Varying the Volume Fractions of Ledeburitic Cementite and Graphite on the Tribological Properties of Commercially Used Cast IronsŁukasz Frocisz0Piotr Matusiewicz1Janusz Krawczyk2Faculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, AGH University of Krakow, A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, PolandFaculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, AGH University of Krakow, A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, PolandFaculty of Metals Engineering and Industrial Computer Science, AGH University of Krakow, A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, PolandThe types and volume fractions of the carbonaceous phases present in the microstructures of cast irons strongly influence their properties. In the case of materials used commercially for tools, an important parameter with regard to their use is the resistance to abrasion wear. Cementite is the main reinforcing phase in cast irons and is present in significant quantities. In addition, cast irons contain graphite precipitates, which also affect wear by interacting with the matrix of the alloys. In this study, abrasive wear tests were carried out on a group of cast irons with different chemical compositions and, consequently, different microstructural morphologies. Due to the wide scatter of the results and the commercial rather than laboratory nature of the alloys studied, it was decided to use analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine whether there was a statistically significant difference between the volume fractions of the carbonaceous phases. The volume fractions of graphite and ledeburite were then related to the results of the tribological tests. Statistical analysis confirmed significant differences in the results obtained for the alloys tested. A continuous increase in the volume fractions of both graphite and ledeburitic cementite is unfavourable in terms of the wear resistance and friction coefficient values. Optimum results can be obtained by balancing the volume fractions of the two phases observed. In addition, the phase composition of the material matrix plays an important role in wear, as the differences in the matrix of the tested alloys modify the nature of the influence of cementite and graphite on the wear.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/11/12/498tribologyfriction coefficientcast ironmicrostructure
spellingShingle Łukasz Frocisz
Piotr Matusiewicz
Janusz Krawczyk
Effect of Varying the Volume Fractions of Ledeburitic Cementite and Graphite on the Tribological Properties of Commercially Used Cast Irons
Lubricants
tribology
friction coefficient
cast iron
microstructure
title Effect of Varying the Volume Fractions of Ledeburitic Cementite and Graphite on the Tribological Properties of Commercially Used Cast Irons
title_full Effect of Varying the Volume Fractions of Ledeburitic Cementite and Graphite on the Tribological Properties of Commercially Used Cast Irons
title_fullStr Effect of Varying the Volume Fractions of Ledeburitic Cementite and Graphite on the Tribological Properties of Commercially Used Cast Irons
title_full_unstemmed Effect of Varying the Volume Fractions of Ledeburitic Cementite and Graphite on the Tribological Properties of Commercially Used Cast Irons
title_short Effect of Varying the Volume Fractions of Ledeburitic Cementite and Graphite on the Tribological Properties of Commercially Used Cast Irons
title_sort effect of varying the volume fractions of ledeburitic cementite and graphite on the tribological properties of commercially used cast irons
topic tribology
friction coefficient
cast iron
microstructure
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4442/11/12/498
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