Microstructure and Properties of 17Cr-0.8C Cast Steel

The results of studies of the microstructure and properties of cast high alloy steels containing 17% Cr and 0.8% C subjected to different variants of heat treatment are presented. For phase identification, the light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy as well as the X-ray diffraction analysis were used. The conducted studies revealed the presence of carbides in the microstructure, mainly of the M₂₃C₆ carbide, detected after both quenching and tempering at 200 and 600°C. The use of low and high tempering significantly reduced the test alloy hardness from 657.3 HV₃₀ to 403.7 HV₃₀. At the same time, hardness was observed to have an impact on the values of abrasion in the conducted Miller slurry test. Higher material hardness leads to lower wear expressed by mass loss.