The effects of nickel and carbon concentrations on the wear resistance of Fe–Ni–C austenitic alloys

The effects of nickel and carbon concentrations on the wear resistance of Fe–xNi–yC (x = 14–20 wt.%, y = 0.6–1.0 wt.%) were investigated with respect to strain energy initiation of the martensitic transformation and hardness. The strain energy needed to initiate the martensitic transformation increased with increasing carbon and nickel concentrations, except in 1.0 wt.% C alloys. The wear resistance of the material decreased with increasing carbon concentration up to 0.9 wt.% C. This effect is most likely due to decrement of the martensite volume fraction with increasing carbon concentration induced by the incremental strain energy required to begin the martensitic transformation. In the case of 1.0 wt.% C, the improved wear resistance may be due to carbide precipitation.