Comparison of abrasive wear of a complex high alloy hardfacing deposit and WC–Ni based metal matrix composite

The abrasive wear of hardfacing deposits of a complex high alloy (SHS9290) and a tungsten carbide–Ni based metal matrix composite (MMC) has been compared using silica, garnet and alumina grit. In dry sand rubber wheel tests with silica abrasive and pin-on-flat tests with garnet abrasive, the SHS9290 alloy has shown a lower wear rate than the WC–Ni MMC. In comparison, in pin-on-flat tests using alumina abrasive, a higher wear rate was measured for SHS9290 alloy than the WC–Ni based MMC. The wear data has been interpreted in terms of the hardness of the constituent phases relative to the abrasives. The combination of high resistance to abrasive wear and known fracture toughness of SHS9290 alloy are optimal properties for digging picks used in ore excavation except with minerals of extreme hardness.