Effects of composition and microstructure on the abrasive wear performance of quenched wear resistant steels

Wear resistant steels are commonly categorized by their hardness, and in the case of quenched wear resistant steels, their Brinell hardness grades are widely considered almost as standards. In this study, the abrasive wear performance of 15 commercially available 400 HB grade quenched wear resistant steels from all over the world were tested with granite gravel in high stress conditions. The aim was to evaluate the real wear performance of nominally similar steels. Also properties such as hardness, hardness profiles, microstructures and chemical compositions of the steels were studied and reasons for the differences in their wear performance further discussed. In terms of mass loss, over 50% differences were recorded in the abrasive wear performance of the studied steels. Variations in the chemical compositions were linked to the auto-tempered microstructures of the steels, and the microstructural characteristics were further linked to their ultimate wear behavior. •Abrasive wear performance of 400 HB grade quenched wear resistant steels was tested.•Natural 2/10mm granite gravel was used in high-stress abrasive wear testing.•Over 50% differences were recorded in the wear performance of the 15 studied steels.•Initial hardness variations alone cannot explain the observed differences.•Microstructural fine features and hardness profiles affect the wear performance.