Wear of iron-aluminide intermetallic-based alloys and composites by hard particles

In this study, the resistance of alloys and composites based on the interme tallic compounds Fe3Al and FeAl to wear by hard particles was assessed and compared to the behavior of selected metals, alloys, other intermetallic co mpounds and ceramics. Pin abrasion tests were performed on these materials at room temperature. Among other things, it was found that as the Al atomic percent in binary Fe-Al increased, the alloys became more abrasion resista nt. In summary, the ranking of the alloys in terms of abrasion resistance f rom the most resistant to the least resistant proceeds as follows: FeAl > F e3Al > alpha -Fe alloy with 16 at.% Al > pure Fe > pure Al. These results a re discussed in terms of the hardnesses of the respective alloys. The addit ion between 40 and 70 vol.% of a hard second phase (e.g. TiC or TiB2) decre ased the wear rate of the Fe3Al and FeAl composites by an order of magnitud e compared to the parent alloy. In addition, solid particle erosion tests w ere performed on an FeAl alloy, and FeAl + 80 vol.% TiC, FeAl + 80 vol.% WC , FeAl + 80 vol.% TiB2 cermets at 25, 180, 500 and 700 degreesC, and the re sults were compared to erosion behavior of several conventional alloys and cemented carbides (WC-Co). The ranking of the erosion resistance of the FeA l alloys and composite materials was as follows: (most resistant) FeAl-WC > FeAl-TiB2 > FeAl-TiC > FeAl (least resistant). This behavior was related t o both the cermet micro structure and material removal mechanisms. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.