Wear 267 (2009) 2055–2061 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Wear journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/wear Abrasive wear resistance of some commercial abrasion resistant steels evaluated by laboratory test methods José Rendón a , Mikael Olsson b,∗ a SSAB Tunnplåt AB, Borlänge, Sweden b Dalarna University, SE-78188 Borlänge, Sweden article info Article history: Received 19 September 2008 Received in revised form 1 June 2009 Accepted 4 August 2009 Available online 13 August 2009 Keywords: Abrasion resistant steels Sliding abrasion Impact abrasion Laboratory testing Deformed sub-surface layer abstract The aim of the present study is to evaluate the abrasive wear resistance of some potential abrasion resistant steels exposed to different types of abrasive wear contact conditions typical of mining and transportation applications. The steels investigated, include a ferritic stainless steel, a medium alloyed ferritic carbon steel and a medium alloyed martensitic carbon steel. The abrasive wear resistance of the steels was evaluated using two different laboratory test methods, i.e. pin-on-disc testing and paddle wear testing that expose the materials to sliding abrasion and impact abrasion, respectively. All tests were performed under dry conditions in air at room temperature. In order to evaluate the tribological response of the different steels post-test characterization of the worn surfaces were performed using optical surface profilometry, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Besides, characterization of the wear induced sub-surface microstructure was performed using optical microscopy. The results show that depending on the abrasive conditions a combination of high hardness and tough- ness (fracture strain) is of importance in order to obtain a high wear resistance. In the pin-on-disc test (i.e. in sliding abrasion) these properties seem to be controlled by the as-rolled microstructure of the steels although a thin triboinduced sub-surface layer (5–10 m in thickness) may influence the results. In contrast, in the paddle wear test (i.e. in impact abrasion), resulting in higher forces acting perpendicu- lar to the surface by impacting stones, these properties are definitely controlled by the properties of the active sub-surface layer which also contains small imbedded stone fragments. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Abrasive wear is a costly and serious problem in the mining and mineral processing and transportation industry. In particular, the mining industry is consuming increasing amounts of abrasion resistant materials because minerals and rocks subject machinery and equipment to severe wear due to abrasion [1]. In this context, properly designed low alloy steels offer an attractive combination of price and performance that has converted them into to excel- lent competitors of highly alloyed steels and cast irons as well as ceramics. On the other hand, for developing new types of steels it is indis- pensable to understand the phenomena of abrasion and the damage caused by hard particles of an extensive range of sizes. Consider- able effort has been done to understand the response of various materials exposed to abrasion [1,2]. Classifications such as two- body and three-body abrasive wear [3–5], low stress abrasion, high ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +46 23 778643; fax: +46 23 778601. E-mail address: mol@du.se (M. Olsson). stress abrasion and gouging [5,6], and soft abrasion and hard abra- sion [7] have been proposed over the years in order to describe the various types of abrasion processes. Besides, the physical inter- actions between the abrasive particles and the abraded surface have been studied in detail in order to clarify the mechanisms of deformation and wear. These interactions have been divided into four types: microploughing, microcutting, microfatigue and micro- cracking [8]. Machinery and transport devices used in the mining and min- eral industry experience intensive wear by abrasive particles and rocks of different sizes. When loading, the predominant wear mechanism is first of all impact abrasion and during unloading the main wear mechanism is sliding abrasion [9]. Consequently, testing covering these two modes of wear should give a good com- parative indication of the suitability of a material to withstand wear in the applications found in the mining and mineral indus- try. Although laboratory tests may show problems to accurately simulate the abrasive contact conditions found in the field, these tests tend to dominate when it comes to evaluating the wear characteristics of different materials exposed to abrasion. This is 0043-1648/$ – see front matter © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.wear.2009.08.005