Enhancement of Carbon Alloy Steel Hardness and Wear Resistance by Vibration and Modification

Cast alloy steel grade 35KhGSL is widely utilized in various industries. Sometimes, wear resistance and hardness become highly essential for different machine parts. Additions of ultradispersed powders in melt as modifiers, external impact on crystallizing alloy are two important approaches to enhance the mechanical characteristic. In this work, a combination of ultrafine modifier in the form of titanium carbide TiC and mechanical vibration was used for the first time on cast alloy steel grade 35KhGSL in order to study changes in hardness and wear resistance. The method of introducing a modifying additive into the melt is indicated. The analysis has been carried out based on hardness, tribological properties, and microstructural characterization. The microstructural was analyzed using metallographic microscope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. In addition, the Vickers microhardness values were measured, and dry abrasion test was conducted to check the steel's variation in hardness and tribological characteristic after treatment. The combination of mechanical vibration of the crystallizing melt with the simultaneous introduction of titanium carbide powder maximized the hardness of 285 HV (by 36%) and wear resistance. It was recommended to include modification and mechanical vibration operations in the production technology of the "Sprocket" casting at the Parkhomenko Foundry Machine-Building Plant (Karaganda, Republic of Kazakhstan). This type of casting is used in conditions of intensive wear.