Wear and oxidation behaviour of high-chromium white cast irons

High-chromium white cast irons can attain very hard microstructures composed of intergranular chromium carbides dispersed in a tempered martensitic matrix. Two heat-treated high-chromium white cast irons with different carbon contents were studied in this research work using compression at 500 °C, and wear and oxidation tests at 500 and 600 °C. The hot compression behaviour of these products is excellent, with high strengths and significant ductility. They also exhibited good wear and oxidation properties. Fracture micromechanisms are discussed in relation to the chemical composition and microstructure of the two alloys.