Research Progress on Alloying of High Chromium Cast Iron—Austenite Stabilizing Elements and Modifying Elements

High chromium cast iron (HCCI) is widely used in the manufacturing of equipment parts in the fields of mining, cement, electric power, metallurgy, the chemical industry, and paper-making because of its excellent wear and corrosion resistance. Although the microstructure and properties of HCCI can be modified by controlling the casting and heat treatment process, alloying is still the most basic and important method to improve the properties of HCCI. There are about 14 common alloying elements in HCCI, among which nickel, copper, and manganese are typical austenite stabilizing elements, which can increase austenite content and matrix electrode potential. The addition of elements such as silicon, nitrogen, boron, and rare earth (RE) is often small, but it has a significant effect on tailoring the microstructure, thereby improving wear resistance and impact toughness. It was thought that after years of development, the research on the role of the above elements in HCCI was relatively complete, but in the past 5 to 10 years, there has been a lot of new research progress. Moreover, the current development situation of HCCI is still relatively extensive, and there are still many problems regarding the alloying of HCCI to be further studied and solved. In this paper, the research results of austenitic stabilizing elements and modifying elements in HCCI are reviewed. The existing forms, distribution law of these elements in HCCI, and their effects on the microstructure, hardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance of HCCI are summarized. Combined with the current research situation, the future research and development direction of HCCI alloying is prospected.