Experimental Analysis of Nitrogen as an Alloying Element in WC9 Grade Steel

In the present work the effect of nitrogen on WC9 alloy at various weight percentages was analyzed and tested for their microstructural and mechanical properties. The nitrogen was added at 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25 wt. % in the solid form as nitrided ferrochrome to WC9 alloy. The samples were heat treated by solution annealing process at a temperature of 1100°C for 5 hours to improve the austenitic formation. Microstructures and mechanical properties such as tensile strength, yield strength, hardness, % elongation and % reduction of WC9-N alloy were examined. It was observed that increasing nitrogen wt. % increases the mechanical properties. The obtained mechanical properties were compared with base WC9 and C12A grade steel, where it was found to be replacement for C12A grade steel at its composition at lower end. The material cost analysis for WC9-N and C12A grade steel was done and both were compared.