On the comparison of microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of high-vanadium austenitic manganese steels with the Hadfield steel

In this study, high-vanadium austenitic manganese steel (HV-AMS) alloys and the standard Hadfield steel were investigated. The microstructure of these high-vanadium alloyed Hadfield steels was studied thoroughly using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) and was compared to the Hadfield steel. The hardness and unnotched Charpy impact strength of HV-AMS alloys and Hadfield steel were examined at ambient temperature in the as-cast and heat-treated conditions. A pin-on-disk wear test at linear speed of 10 m/min and a 55 N normal load was employed to evaluate the wear behavior of both steel samples. Microstructural results showed that varying the carbon content in HV-AMS alloys can affect the vanadium carbide morphology and its distribution in the austenite matrix which leads to considerable changes of the mechanical properties. Abrasion test revealed that HV-AMS alloys have superior wear resistance, about 5 times of the standard Hadfield steel.