Effect of Zirconium and Heat Treatment on Microstructure and Wear ‎Properties of High Manganese Steels

Standard manganese steel or Hadfield steel is a non-magnetic alloy of iron, manganese, carbon with a composition of 1.0-1.4% carbon and 10-14% manganese. It is important to maintain the ratio of manganese to carbon in this steel. The good abrasion resistance, microstructure and hardenability are the main properties of these steels. The important limitations in the production of high manganese steel parts, are formation of coarse manganese-carbides during the solidification process, and partially solution of carbides in microstructure during solution annealing heat treatment. In this research, the effects of increasing zirconium alloy element and the effect of solution annealing heat treatment on microstructure and abrasion resistance of manganese steels is investigated by analyzing microstructure and wear conditions Wear test was carried out at 500, 1000 and 1500 meters distance. The wear test results showed that Zr can modify wear resistant in as cast and solution treatment conditions. The microstructure assessment results shows that increasing of Zirconium element increase solution tendency of carbides in as cast and heat treated condition, and modify remained carbide sizes and distribution in Zr content steels especially in 0.25% Zr.