Wear and friction behavior of austempered ductile iron as railway wheel material

Austempered ductile irons (ADIs) with three strength grades and one kind of wheel steel were matched with conventional rail steel and rolling-sliding wear tests were conducted. The results show that the wear rate decreases while the friction coefficient increases with the increase of matrix hardness. The increase of subsurface hardness is due to work-hardening and stain-induced transformation of retained austenite to martensite. The main wear mechanism is delamination and becomes mild with the increase of matrix hardness. ADI austempered at 340°C shows the reasonable friction and wear behavior as well as relatively superior mechanical properties. Rolling-sliding wear tests were carried out in present work to investigate the wear and friction behavior of austempered ductile irons. [Display omitted] •Rolling-sliding wear tests of ADIs matched with rail steel were carried out.•The delamination of ADIs becomes mild with the increase of matrix hardness during test.•ADIs with high hardness show superior wear and friction behavior.•ADI austempered at 340°C, reflects the best suitability as railway wheel material.