Microstructure of high (45 wt.%) chromium cast irons and their resistances to wear and corrosion

High chromium cast irons (HCCIs) are widely used in many industrial processes that require materials possessing high resistance to wear and corrosion. In the Alberta oil sands industry, HCCIs are extensively used in slurry pumping systems as well as other processing and handling equipments. However, due to the very harsh mining environment and severe working conditions, conventional HCCIs do not always perform satisfactorily. Great efforts have been made to identify optimum microstructures and chemical compositions in order to effectively tailor HCCIs for improved performance under various operating conditions and minimize maintenance costs. One proposal is to extend the chromium concentration of HCCIs to higher levels.