Wear Resistance of Medium Carbon Steel with Different Microstructures

In this research, the tribological properties of different microstructures of medium carbon steel produced by either an austempered process or quenched-tempered process are investigated. The as-received samples with annealed microstructure (spherodized) are austempered to obtain a bainite microstructure or quenched-tempered to obtain a tempered martensite microstructure. The tribological performance of these microstructures was studied using a ball-on-disk UMT3 tribometer. The results indicated that both bainite microstructures and tempered-martensite microstructures produced better wear resistance than pearlite microstructures. At the same hardness level, the austempered disk specimens have less cracking due to higher fracture toughness compared to quenched and tempered steel. For the disks, tempered martensite microstructures produced more plastic deformation compared with bainite microstructures. Mild abrasive wear was observed on the harder disks, however, smearing wear was observed on the softer disks. Adhered debris particles were observed on the balls.