Application research of ferrous matrix composites in roller ring used in high-speed wire/bar rolling mill

Tungsten carbide particle (WCP) reinforced ferrous matrix composites roller rings were fabricated by centrifugal casting. The microstructures, properties and application effect of the composites roller rings were investigated by SEM, TEM and various property testers. The experimental results show that the WCP were uniformly distributed in outer reinforced-layer (working-layer) of 20–50 mm in thickness and their volume fraction reached 60–80 vol.%; there was a good interface bonding between WCP and Fe–C alloy without any reaction products; hardness attained to HRA80–85 in working-layer, and HRA73–76 in inner ferrous matrix where the toughness was over 8 J/cm2; the wear resistance of the composites roller rings excels that of high-speed steel; service life of the composites parts approached to that of the WC hard alloy roll when the same WCP-volume-fraction in working-layer were obtained for both of them, but the production cost of the WCP/Fe–C composites roller ring decreased by 50%.