Comparative Study of Slurry Erosion and Sliding Wear Properties of Quenched and Tempered Martensitic Steels

The slurry erosion and sliding wear performance of a newly developed martensitic steel have been reported here. The wear performance of the newly developed steel is compared with that of a commercially available wear-resistant steel (Hardox 400). The samples are tested for slurry erosion resistance using a slurry erosion pot tester for 15 h with a rotating speed of 1000 rpm. Their mass loss is related to the microstructure and mechanical properties. The analysis shows that the newly developed low-alloy martensitic steel has ~ 3 times higher erosion resistance than Hardox 400. However, Hardox 400 has ~ 2 times superior sliding wear resistance than the martensitic steel. These findings conclude that hardness along with strain hardening tendency is the deciding factor for erosion and sliding wear resistance. The eroded surface microstructure of steels reveals the formation of microcrack and crater. Plowing and micro-cutting are the primary wear mechanisms in both steels.