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Influence of Sn and Nb additions on the microstructure and wear characteristics of a gray cast iron

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Abstract

Effects of Sn and Nb additions on the microstructure and wear behavior of a gray cast iron (GCI) have been investigated in details. The results showed that the combined additions of Sn and Nb not only promote the generation of pearlite and type-A graphite but also refine the graphite flakes size and the pearlite lamellar spacing. The analysis results of wear test indicated that the GCI-Sn–Nb sample with higher hardness (201 HB) yields a decreased mass loss by 63% compared to the GCI sample. Moreover, the GCI sample displays a severe wear in which some larger crater and a coarser surface can be observed, while the wear morphology of the GCI-Sn–Nb sample looked smooth, and the crater was smaller than the others. Under the present wear test condition, the combined additions of Sn and Nb are likely to improve the wear resistance of gray cast iron. The enhanced wear resistance of GCI-Sn–Nb sample was closely correlated to the increased hardness caused by the increase in pearlite content and the refinement of the graphite flakes size and the pearlite lamellar spacing.

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Data availability statement

The raw/processed data required to reproduce these findings cannot be shared at this time as the data also form part of an ongoing study.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for Undergraduates of Shaanxi Province (S201911736047).

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Author notes

  1. Qiangguo Li and Yanan Zhang are considered as co-first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, People’s Republic of China

    Qiangguo Li

  2. Key Laboratory of Energy Engineering Safety and Disaster Mechanics (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, 610065, People’s Republic of China

    Qiangguo Li

  3. Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Science and Engineering (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Chengdu, 610065, People’s Republic of China

    Qiangguo Li

  4. School of Materials Engineering, Xi’an Aeronautical University, Xi’an, 710077, People’s Republic of China

    Yanan Zhang, Haibo Liu, Haonan Ren & Yamei Zhong

  5. School of Resources Environment and History, Xianyang Normal University, Xianyang, 712000, People’s Republic of China

    Yaning Zhang

  6. College of Materials Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, People’s Republic of China

    Qiangguo Li, Xuefei Huang & Weigang Huang

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  1. Qiangguo Li
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Correspondence to Qiangguo Li or Weigang Huang.

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Li, Q., Zhang, Y., Zhang, Y. et al. Influence of Sn and Nb additions on the microstructure and wear characteristics of a gray cast iron. Appl. Phys. A 126, 282 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-020-03468-8

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