| Abstract Scope |
LCu (0.6 wt.% Cu) and HCu (1.1 wt.% Cu), after thermo-mechanical processing. Both steels undergo homogenization at 1250°C, forging with 60% reduction, and quenching at 820°C, 870°C, and 920°C. The dominant microstructures are martensite, bainite, and some ferrite. Wear tests, using a pin-on-disc tribometer with 10 N and 50 N loads at 1 m/s, reveal that specimens quenched from 920°C exhibit superior wear resistance under a 50 N load. At 10 N, Both steels show poor resistance. The wear mechanism is influenced by temperature, leading to oxide layer formation. A martensitic structure formed at 920°C creates a thin, durable Fe₃O₄ layer, enhancing wear resistance, while bainitic structures at 820°C produce brittle FeO layers, resulting in higher wear volume. The study includes detailed microstructural and wear track analysis, highlighting different wear mechanisms across the steels. |