Abrasive wear response of cryotreated EN45 steel in simulated wear test rig fixture

Abstract

Wear by sand abrasion occurs in cutter blades of sugarcane cutting machine. The wear life of components used under sand abrasion conditions is governed by process parameters, properties of abrasive particles in the soil and material properties. In this article, the wear performance of conventionally and cryotreated specimens was tested in the soil containing 20% silica at different blade speeds such as 300, 400, 600 and 750 rev min^− 1 at the varied cutting times of 8, 16, 24 and 32 h respectively using simulated test rig fixture of sugarcane cutting machine. In addition, treated specimens were characterised for the microstructural features, hardness and surface roughness. Microstructural study indicated fine structure of tempered martensite with addition of segregation of silicon and carbon spots in the cryotreated specimen. The surface roughness of cryotreated material was decreased by 50% with respect to conventionally treated one. The mass loss of cryotreated cutting blades was reduced by 28% over conventional treatment at 750 rev min^− 1. The wornout surface and subsurface of conventionally treated specimens showed predominant dislodgment of wear particles.