EFFECTS OF HEAT TREATMENT ON THE IMPROVED WEAR RESISTANCE OF SHOT BLAST MACHINE BLADE MATERIAL

The blade is a component of the shot blast machine that functions as a thrower of small steel balls (steel shot). During its use, the blade undergoes impacts and friction with the steel shot, causing wear and a shortened lifespan. The material typically used for blades is white cast iron. Hence, the blade must possess good hardness and wear resistance. This study analyzed the causes of blade failure and proposed solutions in the form of hardening and tempering treatments. The tests conducted in this research included composition analysis, metallographic examination, hardness testing, and wear resistance testing. Based on the composition and hardness tests, the failure was attributed to material composition and hardness not meeting the ASTM A532 standards. The solution to this failure involves heat treatment to achieve hardness that complies with ASTM A532 standards, specifically hardening at 900°C for 40 minutes, followed by cooling with oil as the quenching medium. Then, the tempering process was carried out at 200°C, 250°C, and 300°C with holding times of 80 and 120 minutes. Post-heat treatment, the optimal hardness value, and the lowest wear rate were obtained at a tempering temperature of 300°C with a holding time of 120 minutes. The hardness value of the blade material under these conditions reached 63.8 HRC, and the wear rate was 1,21E-04 mm3.kg-1.m-1. A low wear rate indicates that the material has high wear resistance.