Assessment the possibility of enhancing the tribological properties of the ferritic-austenitic cast steel

The purpose of the research was to explore the possibility of enhancing the tribological properties of the ferritic-austenitic cast steel which is widely used in combustion gas desulphurization systems in the power industry. The subject of the research is the GX2CrNiMoN25-6-3 cast steel, a material for making pump rotors and other parts intended for operation at a temperature of up to 70 °C in a water suspension containing Cl- and SO4-2 ions and sand / gypsum particles. It seems that in some applications, at low dynamics of parts’ operation and a predominance of erosive phenomena over corrosive ones, there is a potential for using the σ phase as a structural constituent that enhances the tribological properties. However, due to the increased brittleness of the material, a need arises for optimizing the quantity of this phase and carrying out detailed research into the morphology of precipitates. To describe the tribological properties, the testing of the erosive and corrosive wear mechanism was used, which was carried out on a test stand of the authors' own construction. Metallographic and stereological examinations and hardness tests were performed, which enabled the understanding of the successive stages of tribological wear of the cast steel under investigation. The increasing volumetric share of the σ phase advantageously influenced the erosive wear resistance of the material.