Multi-objective optimization of alloying elements to enhance the wear resistance and impact strength of HCCI produced by furan sand mold

High Chromium White Cast Iron (HCWCI) plays a major role in manufacturing of wear-resistant components. Due to unique wear resistance property, attribution to the additions of carbide forming elements, they have been used for mill liner applications. By varying the wt% of alloying elements such as Cr, Ti, and Mo, the wear resistance and impact strength of High Chromium Cast Iron (HCCI) can be increased. To enhance the wear resistance property according to Central Composite Design (CCD), 16 samples were fabricated by varying the wt% of alloying elements. To fabricate the samples, furan sand molds were prepared and used for the further casting process. The properties of Furan sand mold enhance the mechanical properties and reduce the mold rejection rate, production time, etc. To attain the optimum Wear Rate (WR) and Impact Strength (IS) value without dominance, optimization techniques such as Response Surface Methodological (RSM) and Particle swarm optimization (PSO) are employed to solve the multi-objective problem. The RSM and PSO predicted optimum solutions are compared by using the Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) ranking method. The WASPAS result revealed that when compared to the RSM result, the PSO predicted optimal wt% of chemical composition (22 wt % Cr, 3 wt % Ti, and 2.99 wt % Mo) gives the optimum WR value (53 mm3/min) and IS value (3.77 J). To validate the PSO result, experiments were carried out for the predicted wt% of alloying elements and tested. The difference between the PSO predicted result and experimental result is less than 5% error which clearly shows that PSO is an effective method to solve the multi-objective problem.

Load dependent microstructural evolution in an as-cast 26% Cr high chromium cast iron during unlubricated sliding

In the current study, an as-cast 26% Cr high chromium cast iron (HCCI) alloy was subjected to dry-sliding linear wear tests, under different loads. The loads were selected based on analytically computing the critical load (PC) i.e., the load necessary to induce plastic deformation. The PC was calculated to be 15 N and accordingly, a sub-critical load (5 N) and an over-critical load (20 N) were chosen. The influence of increasing the load during the wear test was investigated in terms of the matrix microstructural behaviour and its ability to support the surrounding carbides. The morphological aspects of the wear tracks, and the deformed matrix microstructure adjacent and underneath the track was analysed by confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively. No evidence of plastic deformation of the matrix was observed below PC. On the contrary, at loads equal to and higher than PC, the austenitic matrix plastically deformed as evidenced by the presence of slip bands. Electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) measurements in terms of grain reference orientation deviation, and micro-Vickers hardness of the austenitic matrix indicated a deformation depth of about 40 µm at the maximum applied load of 20 N. The active wear mechanisms during sliding were a combination of both adhesive and abrasive wear, although increasing the load shifted the dominant mechanism towards abrasion. This was primarily attributable to the increased propensity for carbide cracking and fracturing, combined with the inability of the hardened austenitic matrix surface and sub-surface to adequately support the broken carbide fragments. Moreover, the shift in the dominant wear mechanism was also reflected in the wear volume and subsequently, the wear rate.