THE ABRASIVE WEAR-RESISTANCE OF THE MARTENSITIC GROUP-2 AND GROUP-3 HARDFACING MATERIALS - THE INFLUENCE OF ABRADENT TYPE

The present study evaluated the wear resistance properties of a series of martensitic group 2 and 3 materials and, in particular, the influe nce of the particular abradent medium. Essentially, increasing the car bon level, increased the wear resistance of the martensitic materials while the relative abrasion resistance values for the river sand resid ed below those of the silicon carbide. Certainly, the best iron-based wear-resistant material in a high-stress situation was one in which th e microstructure consisted of low-alloy M(7)C(3)-type carbides in a le nticular martensite. It was evident that chromium additions were not b eneficial to wear resistance where soft abradent mediums were used; su ch additions, however, improved wear resistance in situations where si licon carbide was the abradent.