Initial Analysis of the Surface Layer of AVGI Cast Iron Subject to Abrasion

The article presents the results of research on the abrasion resistance of cast iron with vermicular graphite in the as-cast state and after austempering (the latter material is referred to as AVGI – Austempered Vermicular Graphite Iron). Austenitization was carried out at the temperature values of either 900°C or 960°C, and austempering at the temperature values of either 290°C and or 390°C. Both the austenitization and the austempering time was equal to 90 minutes. The change of the pearlitic-ferritic matrix to the ausferritic one resulted in an increase in mechanical properties. Abrasion tests were conducted by means of the T-01M pin-on-disc tribometer. The counter-sample (i.e. the disc) was made of the JT6500 friction material. Each sample was subject to abrasion over a sliding distance of 4000 m. The weight losses of both samples and counter-samples were determined by the gravimetric method. It was found that the vermicular cast iron austenitized at 900°C and austempered at 290°C was characterized by the lowest wear among the evaluated cast iron types. The geometric structure of the surface layer after the dry friction test exhibited irregular noticeable grooves, distinct oriented abrasion traces, plastic flow of the material, microcracks, and pits generated by tearing out the abraded material. The largest surface roughness was found for the AVGI cast iron heat-treated according to the variant 3 (Tγ =900 ºC; Tpi = 390°C), while the smallest one occurred in AVGI cast iron subject to either the variant 2 (Tγ =960 ºC; Tpi = 290°C) or the variant 4 (Tγ =900 ºC; Tpi = 290°C) of heat treatment and was equal to either 2.5 μm or 2.66 μm, respectively. It can be seen that the surface roughness decreases with the decrease in the austempering temperature.