Effect of B boride orientation on abrasion wear resistance of Fe-B cast alloy

The microstructures and abrasion wear resistance of directional solidification Fe-B alloy have been investigated using optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and laser scanning microscopy. The results show that the microstructure of as-cast Fe-B alloy consists of ferrite, pearlite and eutectic boride. After heat treatment, the microstructure is composed of boride and martensite. The plane which is perpendicular to the boride growth direction possesses the highest hardness. In two-body abrasive wear tests, the silicon carbide abrasive can cut the boride and martensite matrix synchronously, and the wear mechanism is micro cutting mechanism. The worn surface roughness and the wear weight loss both increase with the increasing contact load. Moreover, when the boride growth direction is perpendicular to the worn surface, the highest hardness plane of the boride can effectively oppose abrasion, and the martensite matrix can surround and support borides perfectly.