The rolling/sliding wear performance of high silicon carbide-free bainitic steels

The rolling/sliding wear performance of several carbide-free high silicon bainitic steels was investigated in the context of rail applications, along with detailed microstructural characterization. The results indicate that harder materials exhibited lower wear rates and the presences of inclusions and allotriomorphic ferrite in the microstructures were detrimental to the wear performance. The wear resistance of some of the experimental materials was comparable to that of the pearlitic steel used at present in rail application. The characteristics of the alloys undergoing rolling/sliding wear were investigated and discussed.