Wear behavior and the corresponding work hardening characteristics of Hadfield steel

The wear properties of N + Cr alloyed Hadfield steel (i.e., Mn12CrN steel) and traditional Hadfield steel (i.e., Mn12 steel) were studied. Results showed that the wear behavior and work hardening characteristics of Mn12CrN steel were different from those of Mn12 steel under different wear loads. Mn12CrN steel presented common wear resistance under low wear loads, but strong wear resistance under high wear loads. The worn surface hardness of Mn12CrN steel increased slowly under low applied wear loads, but increased rapidly and approached the saturation value under high wear loads. The effect of N and Cr combination alloying on initial strength and twinning behavior was responsible for the different hardening characteristics of Mn12CrN steel.