Effect of Solution and Aging Treatment on the Tribological Properties of K452 Alloy in a Wide Temperature Range

This study focuses on China’s domestically developed K452 alloy. Using Si3N4 ceramic balls as the counterface material, the tribological properties of the K452 alloy were investigated after heat treatment over a wide temperature range (RT–800 °C), and the wear mechanisms were analyzed. The results show that the heat treatment process enhances the material hardness slightly by promoting the dissolution of the γ′-strengthening phase and the precipitation of the η phase. From RT to 600 °C, the wear rate of the K452 alloy remains at a relatively low level, on the order of 10−6 mm3·m−1·N−1. Compared with the as-cast condition, intermediate treatment exhibits a significant reduction in the wear rate. Compared with traditional processes, it reduces one step of heat treatment. This improvement is attributed to the precipitation of the uniformly fine η phase, along with the re-dissolution of the γ′-strengthening phase. When the testing temperature is raised to 800 °C, the tribological performance of the K452 alloy deteriorates significantly, with the wear rate increasing to the order of 10−5 mm3·m−1·N−1. Microstructural characterization confirms that the in situ formations of dense Cr2O3 and Al2O3 oxide films during friction are the primary mechanism for improved wear resistance from RT to 600 °C. But when the temperature rises to 800 °C, the dynamic equilibrium of the oxide layers is disrupted, leading to oxidative wear becoming the dominant mechanism.