Preliminary Study of New Low-Temperature Hard Abrasion Resistant Fe-P and Fe-P-X (X = C or/and B) Casting Alloys

This article analyses the as-cast state of practically unknown Fe-P-based cast alloys with or without an addition of carbon and/or boron, cast into a grey cast iron mould. The melting intervals of the alloys were determined by DSC analysis, and the microstructure was characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy with an EDXS detector. The hardness and microhardness of the alloys were also measured. Their hardness reached values between 52 and 65 HRC depending on chemical composition and microstructure, showing their high abrasion resistance. The high hardness is a consequence of the eutectic and primary intermetallic phases of Fe3P, Fe3C, Fe2B or mixed type. By increasing the concentration of metalloids and combining them, the hardness and brittleness of the alloys were increased. The alloys with predominantly eutectic microstructures were the least brittle. Depending on the chemical composition, the solidus and liquidus temperatures ranged from 954 degrees C to 1220 degrees C and were lower than those of the well-known wear-resistant white cast irons.

Automated summary

This article analyzes the as-cast state of relatively unknown Fe-P-based cast alloys with or without carbon and/or boron addition, cast into a grey cast iron mold. The alloys' melting intervals were determined using DSC analysis, and their microstructure was characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopy with an EDXS detector. Hardness and microhardness measurements were also conducted, with hardness values ranging from 52 to 65 HRC depending on chemical composition and microstructure, indicating high abrasion resistance. The high hardness is attributed to the presence of eutectic and primary intermetallic phases such as Fe3P, Fe3C, Fe2B, or a mixture of them. By increasing the concentration and combination of metalloids, the alloys' hardness and brittleness were increased. Alloys with predominantly eutectic microstructures exhibited the least brittleness. The solidus and liquidus temperatures ranged from 954°C to 1220°C, depending on the chemical composition, and were lower than those of well-known wear-resistant white cast irons.