Effect of vanadium on microstructure and mechanical properties of Fe–1.8Ni–0.5Mo–2Cu–0.45C PM steel

ABSTRACT

In this research, the microstructure and mechanical properties of Fe–1.8Ni–0.5Mo–2Cu–0.45C powder metallurgy (PM) steels with 0–0.3% vanadium were investigated by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transverse rupture, hardness and tribological tests. It is revealed that the volume fraction of polygonal ferrite in the sintered PM steels increased with the increasing of V addition, and more fine V(C,N) particles were formed during the sintering process. The enhancement of transverse rupture strength of the sintered and heat-treated PM steels with V addition was due to the grain refinement and precipitation strengthening effect. The friction coefficient the heat-treated steels decreased with an increase in V addition, whereas the wear loss increased.

KEYWORDS:

• Powder metallurgy
• vanadium
• microstructure
• mechanical properties

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was financially supported by Jiangsu Province Cooperative Innovation Fund for Prospective Research Project [grant number BY2014003-06], Suzhou City Industrial Technology Innovation Project [grant number SGC201539], Changshu City Science and Technology Plan Project [grant number CG201404] and A Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions.