Solid particle erosion behaviour of hardfacing deposits on cast iron-Influence of deposit microstructure and erodent particles

Solid particle erosion (SPE) behaviour of different hardfacing electrodes deposited on gray cast iron (ASTM 2500) was studied using quartz sand and iron ore as erodent particles. Erosion test was carried out as per ASTM G76 test method. Considerable differences in erosion rates were found among different hardfacing electrodes at normal impact. Both volume fraction of carbides and type of carbides played an important role in the erosion behaviour of the deposits when quartz sand was used as erodent particles. On the other hand, only volume fraction of carbides irrespective of carbide type mainly controlled the erosion rate of the same deposits when iron ore was used as erodent particles. Such difference is attributed due to difference in metal removal mechanisms by the two erodent particles used. Hard quartz sand particles were capable of causing damage to most of the carbides while relatively softer iron ore particles were unable to fracture any carbides present in the microstructures. Furthermore, relatively brittle matrix led to high erosion rate which is significant in case of quartz sand as erodent, but not in case of iron ore particles. Like abrasion resistance, hardness is not a true index of erosion resistance of hardfacing deposits.