WORK-HARDENING OF AUSTENITIC MANGANESE HARDFACING DEPOSITS

Four test methods were investigated for their ability to discriminate among various austenitic manganese hardfacing deposits as regards work hardening capacity. The test methods are 1) Rockwell C testing in Bri nell hardness impressions made with varying loads, 2) Meyer's Law appl ied to Brinell impressions made with varying loads, 3) tensile testing and 4) a newly devised drop-weight indentation test. Of these, only t he drop-weight indentation test discriminated successfully among ordin ary 14% Mn austenitic manganese steel, rich 20% Mn austenitic manganes e steel and 15% Mn-15% Cr austenitic manganese steel. The two more hig hly alloyed austenitic manganese compositions were found to offer high er resistance to indentation than do the ordinary austenitic manganese compositions. These results are being applied to high impact situatio ns such as rail frogs.