Abylkas Saginov Karaganda Technical University (Karaganda, Kazakhstan)

M. A. Tulepova, Doctoral Student, Dept. of Metallurgy and New Materials, e-mail: moldir_a_nur@mail.ru
Sv. S. Kvon, Cand. Eng., Prof., Dept. of Metallurgy and New Materials, e-mail: svetlana.1311@mail.ru

A. A. Alina, Ph. D., Lecturer, Dept. of Metallurgy and New Materials, e-mail: altynbekovna_21@mail.ru

Ural Federal University named after the First President of Russia B. N. Yeltsin (Ekaterinburg, Russia)
K. Yu. Okishev, Dr. Phys.-Math.., Prof., Dept. of Heat Treatment and Physics of Metals, e-mail: k.okishev@inbox.ru

This study investigates the effect of a 1 % niobium addition on the microstructure and properties of high-chromium cast iron ChH16. Thermodynamic modeling using the ThermoCalc software and the TCFE13 database demonstrated that niobium promotes NbC carbide formation, with its precipitation occurring most actively in the 1000–600 °С range. The experimental results confirm that niobium refines the cementite structure, increasing hardness and wear resistance without significantly reducing bending strength. Comparative analysis of ChH16 alloyed with 1 % Nb and ChH32 indicates that the experimental alloy offers improved wear performance while maintaining mechanical integrity. Microstructural analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) revealed that NbC carbides are distributed uniformly throughout the matrix. This contributes to enhanced wear resistance due to their high hardness and stability. Hardness and wear tests confirmed an increase in wear resistance comparable to that of ChH32, while the bending strength remained unchanged, making the material suitable for applications involving abrasive and impact loads. Additionally, the formation of niobium carbides facilitates chromium retention in the matrix, suggesting improved heat resistance. These findings suggest that ChH16 with 1 % Nb is a promising material for mining and metallurgical equipment components subjected to severe wear conditions and high temperatures.

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